A Review on Pharmaceutical Cocrystals

Pharmaceutical cocrystals have emerged as an effective crystal engineering strategy to improve the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). A cocrystal is a multicomponent crystalline system composed of an API and a pharmaceutically acceptable coformer held together through non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and van der Waals forces. Cocrystallization has gained significant attention because it can improve solubility, dissolution rate, stability, bioavailability, compressibility, and mechanical properties without altering the pharmacological activity of the drug. Various methods including solvent evaporation, grinding, slurry conversion, hot melt extrusion, and supercritical fluid technology are used for cocrystal preparation. The present review discusses the concept, classification, advantages, disadvantages, preparation methods, characterization techniques, evaluation parameters, and pharmaceutical applications of cocrystals.