Abstract
Cocrystals consists of an API and stoichiometric amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable cocrystal former which may be an another API. Cocrystals can be made by different types of interaction like hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and van der waals forces. Cocrystals are nonionic supramolecular complexes and can be used to optimize physicochemical properties like solubility, dissolution rate, stability, and mechanical properties like flowability, compressibility, compactibility as well as pharmacokinetic properties like bioavailability of the API without changing its chemical composition and pharmacological action. Cocrystallization approach alters the molecular composition of active pharmaceutical ingredients and is considered better alternatives to improve physicochemical, mechanical, pharmacotechnical and pharmacokinetic drug properties. Factors affecting cocrystal stability and phase transformations are reported is only likely to form if it is thermodynamically more stable than the crystals of its individual components. Objective of pharmaceutical cocrystal formulation is to improve physicochemical and mechanical properties of BCS Class II drugs having poor flowability, and hence via cocrystallization approach directly compressible tablet dosage form can be prepared with greater improvement in pharmacokinetic and manufacturing parameters.
