Nanocrystals: Current Strategies and Trends

With the advent of modern technologies, a large number of drugs have been discovered which have a better efficiency but their clinical application is restricted due to poor water solubility. Nearly 40% of the drugs in the pipeline and around 60% of compounds coming directly from synthesis have poor solubility. Poor water solubility has become a leading challenge for the formulation of these compounds. Poor solubility is generally associated with poor bioavailability. Nanocrystals have the potential to overcome this issue. Change of materials into the nanodimension dramatically changes its physical properties. Drug nanocrystals are crystals with a size in the nanometer range (mean diameter < 1000nm). This review article outlines the various pharmaceutical advantages of nanosization, industrially relevant production technologies available currently with advantages and disadvantages of each and the various dosage forms developed using nanocrystals. The nanocrystal products in the market/pipeline will be briefly reviewed and the advantages of these as compared to traditional products would be highlighted.