Nanocrystals: industrially feasible multifunctional formulation technology for poorly soluble actives

Poor solubility of new drugs and their related low oral bioavailability and general delivery problems are becoming a major challenge. Nanocrystals being a kind of "universal" formulation approach for these molecules are reviewed in this paper regarding the industrial feasibility, i.e. industrially available production processes (bottom-up and top-down technologies), regulatory aspects and nanotoxicology. This article also includes second generation nanocrystals (<<100 nm) as smartCrystals. The status of products on the market and in clinical phases is presented. The different special features of nanocrystals, which are exploited in different products, are described (tablets, capsule, aqueous nanosuspension). The main focus is given for oral and intravenous products. However, the potential and delivery strategies for other administration routes are discussed, i.e. dermal and mucosal, ocular, pulmonary and targeted delivery (e.g. via differential protein adsorption to the brain). In addition, the potential of the nanocrystal technology for delivery of poorly soluble, non-pharmaceutical actives is highlighted, i.e. in cosmetics or nutraceuticals.