Subcritical water processing for nanopharmaceuticals.

• Subcritical water is used as the solvent for processing of drug nanoparticles. • The use of organic solvents is eliminated by using cold water as anti-solvent. • The nanopharmaceuticals exhibit high dissolution rate. Nanonization of poorly water-soluble drugs offers an efficient approach for enhancing the bioavailability of drugs where the solubility and dissolution rate are the main limitations. The solvent anti-solvent precipitation methods have been the most straightforward technique for producing ultrasmall drug nanoparticles with narrow size distributions. By using subcritical water (SBCW) as the solvent, the use of organic solvents could be eliminated, providing a green route to nanopharmaceuticals. In this review, we aim to give a comprehensive overview and latest progress on SBCW processing for nanoparticles of poorly water-soluble drug compounds. The effects of processing parameters and stabilizers on the properties of the nanoparticles are summarized. Perspectives on existing challenges and opportunities for scale-up and commercialization of the SBCW technology are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]