Polymorphism in the co-crystallization of the anticonvulsant drug carbamazepine and saccharin using supercritical CO2 as an anti-solvent

1:1 Co-crystals of carbamazepine (CBZ) and saccharin (SAC) were obtained for the first time through the supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) technique based on using supercritical CO2 as anti-solvent. The capability of SAS to produce the desired polymorphic form (two polymorphs are known) was assessed. Operational conditions investigated were temperature (40.0 and 60.0 degrees C), pressure (10.0 and 15.0 MPa), solvent choice and coformer concentration in the organic solution (CBZ: 30 and 15 mg/mL; SAC: stoichiometric ratio). Co-crystals were characterized in terms of crystallinity and coformers interactions. No homocrystals were present. Using methanol, at 40.0 degrees C polymorph I was obtained with yields up to 65%; whilst at 60.0 degrees C a mixture of polymorphs was obtained. Mixtures of polymorphs were also obtained in the ethanol and dichloromethane experiments at the studied conditions while the dimethylsulfoxide experiments failed to produce any co-crystal polymorph. For comparison purposes, pure CBZ and SAC were also processed by SAS.