X-ray diffraction (XRD) is widely used in pharmaceutical research to study the solid-state properties of drugs. Here’s how it helps:
- Polymorph identification – Many drugs can exist in different crystal forms (polymorphs), which can affect solubility, stability, and bioavailability. XRD can detect and distinguish these forms.
- Purity and phase analysis – XRD can check if a drug sample is pure or contains impurities or unwanted phases.
- Characterizing amorphous vs. crystalline forms – XRD helps determine whether a drug is crystalline, semi-crystalline, or amorphous, which affects its dissolution and formulation behavior.
- Studying drug-excipient interactions – In formulations, XRD can reveal changes in crystal structure when drugs are mixed with excipients, indicating possible chemical or physical interactions.
- Monitoring stability – XRD can track changes in crystal structure over time, helping evaluate the shelf life and storage conditions of pharmaceuticals.
- Quality control – XRD ensures that manufactured drugs have consistent crystal forms and proper crystallinity, which is critical for efficacy and safety.
In short, XRD helps pharmaceutical researchers understand and control the crystal structure of drugs, ensuring proper performance, stability, and quality.