COCRYSTALS AS A NOVEL STRATEGY TO ENHANCE THE SOLUBILITY AND DISSOLUTION RATE OF ZOLMITRIPTAN: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Poor aqueous solubility remains one of the major challenges in the development of orally administered drug molecules, particularly those belonging to Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) class II and IV.[1,2] Zolmitriptan, a selective 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist widely used in the treatment of migraine, exhibits limited aqueous solubility, which may restrict its dissolution rate and onset of therapeutic action.[3,4] Pharmaceutical cocrystallization has emerged as a promising crystal engineering approach to modify the physicochemical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) without altering their pharmacological activity.[5–7] This review critically summarizes the concept of pharmaceutical cocrystals, their classification, design strategies, and preparation methods, with a special focus on the potential of cocrystallization to enhance the solubility and dissolution rate of zolmitriptan. The article discusses selection of suitable coformers, mechanistic aspects of solubility enhancement, characterization techniques, regulatory considerations, and reported literature on zolmitriptan solid-state modification.[8–11] Current challenges, future perspectives, and research gaps related to zolmitriptan cocrystals are also highlighted. The review aims to provide a comprehensive scientific foundation for researchers exploring cocrystallization as a novel and effective strategy for improving the biopharmaceutical performance of zolmitriptan.