Hygroscopicity and Polymorphism in Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors: A Solid-State Overview

Abstract

Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2Is), or gliflozin, are the latest generation class of drugs used to manage Diabetes mellitus type 2. Having potentially high therapeutic efficacy, this drug class has inherent poor physicochemical properties like poor solubility, poor permeability, hygroscopicity, polymorphism, and low melting point, which hinder the development of marketable forms of these molecules in their free form. These properties are the attributes of the structural arrangement of molecules in the crystal structure. This review highlights polymorphism and hygroscopicity, the two main properties that result in instability in these molecules. The solid-state modification through which these molecules could be manufactured and marketed further has also been discussed, mentioning the pivotal role of crystal engineering in shaping the crystal structure for optimal drug performance.