Suspensions

The term "Disperse System" refers to a system in which one substance

(The Dispersed Phase) is distributed, in discrete units, throughout a
second substance (the continuous Phase ).
dispersed phase = internal phase ,particles of solid, liquid, gas.
bulk phase = external phase = continuous phase, liquid, gas, solid.
Disperse system (2 phases): one component, the disperse phase,
dispersed throughout another component, the continuous phase.
Disperse system = Disperse phase + Continuous Phase
•liquid/liquid: emulsion (creams)
•solid/liquid: suspension
•liquid/gas: aerosol (inhalation)
•solid/gas :aerosol (inhalation).

Classify according to size of disperse phase

Coarse
Colloidal

Coarse Dispersions:
dispersed phase has at least one dimension, x > 1 μm.
Colloidal Dispersions:
dispersed phase has dimensions in the range, 1 nm < x < 1mm .

 A suspension is a preparation in which insoluble drug particles are

suspended uniformly in a liquid vehicle (solid/liquid). The vehicle
may be aqueous or oily.

 Suspensions are generally coarse rather than colloidal dispersions,

with particle sizes ranging from approximately 1-50μm.

 Suspensions represent a useful method of preparing drugs that are

poorly soluble in acceptable solvents.

:Suspensions may be classified based on

a. Proportion of solid particles
Dilute suspension (2 to10%w/v solid)
Concentrated suspension (50%w/v solid)
b. Electrokinetic nature of solid particles
Flocculated suspension
Deflocculated suspension
c. Size of solid particle
Colloidal suspension (< 1 micron)
Coarse suspension (>1 micron)
d. Application (route of administration)
Oral suspension
Externally applied suspension
.Parenteral suspension

Suspensions applications:
1- Suspension is usually applicable for drug which is insoluble.
2- Many people have difficulty in swallowing solid dosage forms and
therefore require the drug to be dispersed in a liquid.
3- The taste of most drugs is more noticeable if it is in solution rather
than in an insoluble form. Paracetamol is available both in solution as
Paediatric Paracetamol Oral Solution and also as a suspension. The latter
is more palatable, and therefore particularly suitable for children. For
the same reason chloramphenicol mixtures can be formulated as
suspensions containing the insoluble chloramphenicol palmitate.
4- Moreover, to improve the availability of a drug for absorption
(compared to solid dosage forms). In general, the bioavailability is in
following order:
5-To prevent degradation of drug or to improve stability of drug. E.g.
Oxytetracycline suspension
6- In addition, suspensions are used to overcome problems of chemical
instability in other dosage forms (hydrolysis).
- Solution > Suspension > Capsule >Compressed Tablet > Coated tablet.

Properties desired in a suspension:

1- The suspended material should be composed of small uniformly sized
particles that do not settle too rapidly, nor adhere to the walls of the
container.
2. The particles which settle on the bottom of the container must not
form a hard cake but should be readily dispersed into a uniform mixture
with the minimum of agitation.
3. The suspension must not be too viscous for its intended use, e.g.
to pour freely from a bottle (oral or dermatological use) or to flow
through a needle (parenteral use).
4. It should be physically, chemically and microbiologically stable.
Disadvantages of suspensions
1- Physical stability, sedimentation and compaction can causes
problems.
2- Suspensions are bulky and sufficient care must be taken during
handling and transport.
3- They are difficult to formulate.
4- Uniform and accurate dose can not be achieved unless suspensions
are packed in unit dosage forms.

FORMULATION OF SUSPENSIONS
.Particle size control (fine, homogenous powder) -1
:Larger particles will
 settle faster at the bottom of the container.
 particles > 5 um impart a gritty texture to the product and also cause
irritation if injected or instilled to the eye.
 particles > 25 um may block the needle.
Too fine particles will easily form hard cake at the bottom of the
container.
2- Wetting agents They are added to disperse solids in continuous liquid
phase.
Some insoluble drugs (e.g. magnesium carbonate) are hydrophilic
enough to disperse readily. Other more hydrophobic drugs (e.g. sulphur,
penicillin) are not only poorly soluble but also poorly wetted and
tend to clump together and float on the surface of the suspension.
Wetting agents are generally added in the initial stages of manufacture
to ensure that the drug is hydrophilic enough to disperse.
The wetting agent is chosen on the basis of its compatibility with the
drug and other excipients.
alcohol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol and polypropylene
glycol.
3. Suspending Agents (Thickeners)
- Once suspended, the drug particles or aggregates will sediment under
gravity as predicted by Stoke’s Law.
- Suspending agents are added to reduce this effect by increasing the
consistency of the vehicle by enhancing the viscosity of the continuous
phase.
- Most suspending agents perform two functions: besides acting as
viscosity enhancers, suspending agents form film around particle and
decrease interparticle attraction.
- Ideal suspending agents form thick dispersions at rest, to inhibit
sedimentation, but thin down sufficiently for dispensing the individual
dose (i.e. shear thinning).
-There should be a sufficient time lapse between shaking the
container and dispensing of the individual dose (thixotropic
behaviour).
- Many of these agents are protective colloids in low concentration
(<0.1%) and viscosity builders in higher concentrations (>0.1%).

 Polysaccharides (Gums): Acacia, Agar, Carrageenan, Guar, Pectin,

Sodium alginate, Tragacanth, Xanthan.
 Water-soluble celluloses: Sodium carboxymethylcellulose
(carmellose sodium) CMC, Microcrystalline cellulose,
Hydroxyethylcellulose HEC, Hydroxypropyl cellulose HPC,
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose HPMC, Methylcellulose MC.
 Hydrated Silicates: They belong to a group called the
montmorillonite. They hydrate absorbing up to 12 times their weight
of water forming thixotropic systems. They include: Bentonite:
aluminum silicate; Al2O3·4SiO2·H2O. It is used at concentrations of 2-
3% in external preparation (Calamine lotion), Magnisium aluminium
silicate (Veegum), Hectorite.
 Polymers: Carbomers, polyvinyl alcohol, povidone, polyethylene
oxide.
 Some solvents which themselves have high viscosity are used as
cosolvents to enhance the viscosity of dispersion medium: e.g.
glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol.