ENHANCEMENT OF SOLUBILITY IN POORLY WATERSOLUBLE DRUGS: MODERN PHARMACEUTICAL APPROACHES

Poor aqueous solubility is a major challenge in pharmaceutical drug development, as nearly 40–50% of newly discovered drugs exhibit low water solubility. Poorly soluble drugs often show slow dissolution rates, low bioavailability, and reduced therapeutic effectiveness. Therefore, improving the solubility of such drugs is an important goal in pharmaceutics. Several strategies have been developed to enhance drug solubility and dissolution rate. Physical techniques such as particle size reduction, micronization, and solid dispersion increase the surface area of drugs and improve dissolution. Chemical approaches including salt formation, prodrug design, and complexation with cyclodextrins also enhance solubility. In addition, formulation methods such as the use of surfactants, co-solvents, and lipid-based drug delivery systems help improve drug wettability and absorption. Recent advances in nanotechnology, including nanoparticles, nano emulsions, and nanosuspensions, have further improved the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. These techniques significantly enhance drug dissolution, therapeutic efficacy, and patient compliance. Thus, solubility enhancement plays a crucial role in the successful development of effective pharmaceutical formulations.