Polymorph screening is an important stage of drug development. The aim is to identify the different crystalline structures or polymorphs that a drug may appropriate. The information gained is used to optimise the physical properties of the drug compound to ensure efficacy, and provide formulation and manufacturing consistency.
Ibuprofen crystallised from Acetone (left), and Ethyl Acetate, (right)
Once a drug compound is discovered, consideration must be given on how it will be administered to a patient. A drug compound may have poor water solubility, poor stability or a lack of crystalline form. This is usually overcomeby creating a ‘salt’ version of the drug compound.
Compounds that are crystalline in nature, often adopt a number of crystalline forms or polymorphs. Different polymorphs will have different physical characteristics which can impact on the manufacturing process, which canaffect the efficacy of the drug.