Impact of preformulation on drug development

The increasing prevalence of poorly soluble drugs in development provides notable risk of new products demonstrating low and erratic bioavailability with consequences for safety and efficacy, particularly for drugs delivered by the oral route of administration. Although numerous strategies exist for enhancing the bioavailability of drugs with low aqueous solubility, the success of these approaches is not yet able to be guaranteed and is greatly dependent on the physical and chemical nature of the molecules being developed. Crystal engineering offers a number of routes to improved solubility and dissolution rate, which can be adopted through an in-depth knowledge of crystallisation processes and the molecular properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients. This article covers the concept and theory of crystal engineering and discusses the potential benefits, disadvantages and methods of preparation of co-crystals, metastable polymorphs, high-energy amorphous forms and ultrafine particles. Also considered within this review is the influence of crystallisation conditions on crystal habit and particle morphology with potential implications for dissolution and oral absorption.

Interest in intranasal (IN) administration as a non-invasive route for drug delivery continues to grow rapidly. The nasal mucosa offers numerous benefits as a target issue for drug delivery, such as a large surface area for delivery, rapid drug onset, potential for central nervous system delivery, and no first-pass metabolism. A wide variety of therapeutic compounds can be delivered IN, including relatively large molecules such as peptides and proteins, particularly in the presence of permeation enhancers. The current review provides an in-depth discussion of therapeutic aspects of IN delivery including consideration of the intended indication, regimen, and patient population, as well as physicochemical properties of the drug itself. Case examples are provided to illustrate the utility of IN dosing. It is anticipated that the present review will prove useful for formulation scientists considering IN delivery as a delivery route.