In-situ analysis of self-assembled monolayer induced polymorphism in controlled crystallization of carbamazepine using quartz crystal microbalance technique

Compared with traditional control methods in the drug crystallization process, a heterogeneous functional monolayer is an effective approach that could induce needed crystal forms under easier control conditions. In this study, a QCM sensor modified by functional groups was used to control the CBZ polymorphism, analyze the process of SAM formation and demonstrate the crystallization process of template-induced heterogeneous nucleation. The results showed that the heterogeneous functional monolayer reduced the induction time of the crystallization and controlled the polymorphism of pharmaceutical crystals. At the same time, molecular modeling was also applied to study the crystallization growth mechanisms of CBZ on the SAM. This work provides a reliable and promising new idea for the controlled crystallization of more drug systems and the online analysis of the nucleation process, and also provides a precise new means for the exploration of the crystallization mechanism.

Automated summary

Compared with traditional control methods, a heterogeneous functional monolayer is an effective approach to induce desired crystal forms in the drug crystallization process under easier control conditions. This study also demonstrates the crystallization process of template-induced heterogeneous nucleation and investigates the crystallization growth mechanisms through molecular modeling.