Drug Nanocrystals: Theoretical Background of Solubility Increase and Dissolution Rate Enhancement

• Published in: Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Quarterly Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 247 - 258
• Main Author: Hasa, D
• Format: Journal Article Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Croatian Association of Chemical Engineers 2014; Hrvatsko društvo kemijskih inženjera i tehnologa
• Subjects: Bioavailability; Chemical properties; dissolution; Dissolution (Chemistry); drug; Fusion, Latent heat of; Health aspects; Measurement; Melting points; Nanocrystals; Observations; Physiological aspects; Solubility; thermodynamic model; Transition temperature; Italy
• ISSN: 0352-9568; 1846-5153
• DOI: 10.15255/CABEQ.2013.1835

The peculiar higher solubility of drug nanocrystals compared to macrocrystals appeals to the pharmaceutical field. Indeed, until now, about 70 % of the potential drug candidates are discarded due to low bioavailability related with poor solubility in water. Since a modern and efficient design strategy for nanocrystal-based delivery systems requires the knowledge of the theoretical relation between nanocrystal size and solubility, the aim of this paper is to build up a physically-oriented thermodynamic model relating to nanocrystal dimensions with their melting temperature, enthalpy, solubility and dissolution rate. In particular, the developed model will be applied to vinpocetine, a poorly soluble drug used in the treatment of various types of cerebrovascular circulatory disorders. Key words: nanocrystals, drug, solubility, dissolution, thermodynamic model