Research profile

At the University of Latvia Laboratory of Molecular Crystals research is being conducted in the following areas: solid form diversity (polymorphism) of molecular compounds (including pharmaceuticals and similar molecules), structure−propery relationships of molecular crystal systems, crystallization of organic molecules using templates, solvate (hydrate), salt, co-crystal, and solid solution formation, chirality in solid state, protonation equilibria. Diverse experimental methods are used in the studies: powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, thermal methods of analysis, spectroscopy methods, as well as quantum chemical calculations and data base studies.

Apart from fundamental research projects there is a long-standing collaboration between the laboratory and Latvian pharmaceutical companies JSC 'Grindeks' and JSC 'Olainfarm' among others. Members of the Laboratory of Molecular Crystals are frequently involved in commercial R&D projects dealing with pharmaceuticals in solid state − patent literature studies, solid form screening, stability testing etc.

History

The research group is relatively new and its origins and development are closely related to the long-standing pharmaceutical industry in Latvia. Former chair of the Department of Physical Chemistry within the Faculty of Chemistry, Prof. Andris Actiņš had become an expert in powder X-ray diffractometry. Due to an urgent need to solve a solid-state-related problem for a local pharmaceutical company concerning the Latvian-developed anti-cancer drug Tegafur, Prof. Andris Actiņš started to focus on X-ray method applications in pharmaceutical industry. Over the course of time ever increasing number of students' research thesis were being dedicated to molecular crystals using actual pharmaceutical molecules as research objects.

As of now the Laboratory of Molecular Crystals is lead by Dr. Chem. Agris Bērziņš − the chair of Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Latvia.