Fabrication and solid state characterization of ticagrelor co-crystals with improved solubility and dissolution

In the present study a new co-crystal of Ticagrelor with L-Tartaric acid has been prepared with improved solubility. Ticagrelor is a class VI drug with poor solubility and permeability; hence an attempt has been made to improve its solubility by co-crystallization technology.A co-crystal is a structurally homogeneous crystalline material containing an API and the co-former in definite stoichiometric amounts. In this study the conformer selected was L-Tartaric acid based on ease of hydrogen bond formation. The co-crystal of Ticagrelor with L-Tartaric acid was prepared in different ratios (1:1, 2:1, 1:2). Ticagrelor formed stable co-crystals in the ratios 1:1&2:1. The formation of co-crystal was confirmed by FTIR, DSC and PXRD. The dynamic solubility of co-crystals in the ratios 1:1 and 2:1 was increased by approximately 2.7 and 2.6 fold respectively as compared to pure drug. The in-vitrodissolution study demonstrated a 1.5 fold increase in the solubility for selected TIC:L-TAR (1:1) as compared to its TIC active pharmaceutical ingredient and TIC physical mixture.