pharmaceutical crystallography

Pharmaceutical crystallography is a scientific technique used to study the atomic structure of drug compounds by analyzing their crystal forms. When molecules arrange themselves in a orderly, repeating pattern, they form crystals. Researchers use X-ray diffraction to shine X-rays on these crystals, which scatter in specific ways to reveal the arrangement of atoms within them. Understanding this structure helps scientists design and optimize new medications, predict how they will function in the body, and improve their effectiveness and safety. This field is crucial in drug development and contributes significantly to advancements in medicine.