Laser ablation as a tool for fragmentation of active pharmaceutical ingredient particles: overview

Abstract

Poor water solubility affects approximately 40% of marketed drugs and 90% of those in development, limiting bioavailability and posing challenges for the pharmaceutical industry. Reducing particle size enhances solubility and bioavailability by increasing the active surface area, which accelerates dissolution and absorption. However, obtaining particles below a few micrometers remains difficult with conventional methods. Pulsed laser ablation (PLA) provides a promising approach for producing micro- and nanosized particles from bulk materials by tailoring laser parameters and experimental conditions. In this study, we used PLA in ambient air and laser ablation in distilled water (PLAL) to significantly reduce the particle size of poorly soluble non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, niflumic acid, and meloxicam. Lasers with varying wavelengths and pulse lengths were applied to ablate tablets made from commercially available powders. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the chemical composition of the particles remained consistent with the original active ingredients. The laser-shredded particles showed improved solubility and superior anti-inflammatory effects compared to the reference powders. Fast photographic imaging further revealed details of the material removal process during laser irradiation. These findings highlight the potential of laser ablation as an innovative method for enhancing poorly soluble pharmaceuticals.