Biomedical use of organic glasses: A comparative review in context to India and the world

Organic glasses, also known as molecular glasses, are amorphous solids formed by low-molecular-weight organic compounds that lack long-range crystalline order. In biomedical applications, they primarily serve as enabling platforms for amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs), significantly enhancing the aqueous solubility, dissolution rate, and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which constitute a major portion of new drug candidates. Beyond solubility enhancement, these materials show promise in stabilizing biologics and vaccines at ambient temperatures, facilitating controlled-release systems, and supporting flexible bioelectronics for implantable sensors. Globally, research emphasizes fundamental aspects such as surface molecular mobility, physical vapor deposition for ultra-stable glasses, thermodynamic modeling of drug-polymer interactions, and nanomechanical properties to predict long-term stability and processability. In contrast, Indian efforts focus on practical, scalable formulation strategies using cost-effective carriers, melt extrusion, and spray drying, tailored to tropical storage conditions, regulatory requirements, and the needs of affordable generic medicines under national health initiatives. This comparative review highlights complementary strengths: international contributions provide deep mechanistic insights and advanced processing techniques, while Indian research excels in translational applications, excipient optimization with natural polymers, and rapid commercialization for public health impact. Shared challenges include humidity-induced recrystallization and sustainability of manufacturing processes, yet synergies through international collaboration could accelerate the development of more stable, accessible, and multifunctional organic glass-based biomedical platforms. As the field evolves with AI-assisted screening and hybrid systems, organic glasses are poised to play an expanding role in next-generation drug delivery and regenerative medicine.