The size-dependent properties related to nanocrystals make such solids of great interest. Whereas inorganic nanocrystals have experienced immense utility, nanocrystals comprised of purely organic components have remained relatively unexplored despite unique physicochemical properties (i.e. molecular recognition). In recent years cocrystals (i.e. multi-component molecular crystals) have garnered interest in the field of Pharmaceutics owing to an ability to improve the physicochemical properties of pharmaceutical agents (PAs) through noncovalent means. Coupling the benefits of pharmaceutical cocrystals and nanocrystals can be expected to further improve PA properties. With this in mind, we turned to a sonochemical approach that employed multiple-solvents and surfactant to achieve nano-cocrystals of caffeine 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid monohydrate, (caff)�(dhba)�(H2O), with an average crystal size of 136.4 nm � 65.05. The utility of the sonochemical approach was further realized with additional pharmaceutical cocrystals and the host-guest system C-methylcalix[4]resorcinarene (CMCR). Sonochemistry not only yielded CMCR nanocrystals but afforded hollow crystals.

Organic nanocrystals of pharmaceutical cocrystals and a host-guest system

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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