Investigations on the formation of hollow acicular crystals and their usage as container systems

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The coating of sensitive compounds is crucial for the food and pharmaceutical industries. While most coatings form amorphous layers, research on crystalline coatings is limited. This work introduces advancements in hollow needle crystals and their innovative applications as coating materials. Hollow crystalline needles have intrigued scientists across various fields, prompting research into new production methods and formation mechanisms. The focus is on acicular crystals created through solvent-mediated phase transitions, which develop a cavity along their longest axis during growth. Initially reported for tubular crystals transitioning from solvates to hydrates, the scope has expanded to include hydrate-to-anhydrate and anhydrate-to-hydrate transformations. Novel crystallization methods are presented, demonstrating fast and reproducible production of hollow crystalline needles. These methods reveal new needle-forming compounds as potential container systems. Insights into the crystallization process offer initial evidence of cavity formation mechanisms. Furthermore, these methods enable direct proof of successful filling of the hollow needle crystals. The combination of simple crystallization techniques and the introduced filling procedure marks significant progress toward developing hollow crystalline needles as protective container systems in the pharmaceutical and food sectors.