Supramolecular Metal–Phenolic Gels for the Crystallization of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

Md Arifur Rahim, Yuuki Hata, Mattias Björnmalm, Yi Ju, Frank Caruso

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The use of supramolecular gel media for the crystallization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is of interest for controlling crystal size, morphology, and polymorphism, as these features determine the performance of pharmaceutical formulations. In contrast to supramolecular systems prepared from synthetic gelators, herein, supramolecular metallogels based on a natural polyphenol (tannic acid) are used for the crystallization of APIs. The gel-grown API crystals exhibit considerable differences in size, morphology, and polymorphism when compared with those formed in solutions. These physical features can also be tailored by varying the gel composition and additives, suggesting an influence of the gel medium on the crystallization outcomes. Furthermore, these gel–API crystal composites can be used for sustained drug release, indicating their potential as drug delivery systems. The facile preparation of these supramolecular gels and the use of naturally abundant components in their synthesis provide a generic platform for studying gel-mediated crystallization of diverse APIs.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1801202
Number of pages6
JournalSmall
Volume14
Issue number26
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Jun 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • active pharmaceutical ingredients
  • composites
  • crystallization
  • morphology control
  • supramolecular gels

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