In drug development, the solid form of a substance plays a big role in how a medicine works. It affects its stability, how easily it dissolves, and how well it is absorbed in the body. One important concept in this area is called pseudopolymorphism.
Pseudopolymorphs are crystal forms of a drug that have solvent or water molecules trapped inside their structure. When water is present, the form is called a hydrate. When another solvent, such as ethanol or methanol, is present, it is called a solvate.
Even though the chemical formula of the drug does not change, these different forms can show very different properties. That is why they are carefully studied during formulation development.
Pseudopolymorphs are important because they can change how fast a drug dissolves, how stable it remains during manufacturing and storage, and how well it performs in the body. They can also influence regulatory approvals.
To study these forms, scientists use techniques like XRPD, DSC, TGA, and FTIR, which help identify and understand their structure and stability.
In short, pseudopolymorphs show us that even small changes in a crystal form can lead to big differences in the final quality and performance of a medicine.
Read also: Role of API Polymorphism in Formulation Development
Resource Person: Vijay Agrawal
