Abstract
This review explores various strategies aimed at improving the solubilization of low-solubility drugs, including formulation design, nanoparticle technologies, prodrug strategies, and particle size reduction methods. Water solubility plays a crucial role in shaping bioavailability, formulation strategies, and therapeutic efficacy. Nanotechnology, particularly in nanomedicines, is a promising avenue to tackle solubility challenges, but faces barriers like production costs, formulation reproducibility, and varying pharmacokinetics. Despite these challenges, the burgeoning landscape of innovative drug delivery technologies offers advantages, particularly for formulation scientists. Understanding molecular properties is crucial for resolving these challenges, with solid dispersions and lipid-based delivery techniques emerging as sought-after solutions. Commercializing these advancements requires a leap in technology and infrastructure, making it essential to streamline the process and identify optimal approaches. Pioneering methodologies, such as Fagerholm's predictive model for human oral bioavailability based on chemical structure, demonstrate promising predictive accuracy. The integration of artificial intelligence and innovative solubility enhancement technologies is pivotal in transforming drug delivery, tackling solubility concerns, and streamlining research and development expenses.