Suspension

PHRM 210
 Disperse systems
• 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 or
vehicle).
• Each phase can exist in solid, liquid, or
gaseous state.
Classification of disperse systems based on
particle size:

Class Particle Size Examples

Molecular <1 nm Ions

dispersion Glucose

Colloidal 1nm to Milk

dispersion 1µm

Coarse >1 µm Emulsions

dispersion Suspensions
 Suspensions
• A suspension is a coarse dispersion in which a
solid is dispersed in a continuous liquid phase.
• It is a coarse dispersion in which insoluble
solid particles in a fine state of subdivision are
dispersed in a liquid medium.
 Suspensions
• The dispersed solid phase is sometimes
referred to as the internal (disperse) phase
and the continuous phase as the external
phase. Suspensions may be either aqueous or
non-aqueous.
• Pharmaceutical colloidal suspension is also
possible, for example aluminum hydroxide and
magnesium hydroxide suspensions.
 Examples
• Antacid oral suspensions
• Antibacterial oral suspension
• Dry powders for oral suspension (antibiotic)
 Physical properties of suspension
• The product must remain sufficiently
homogenous for at least the period between
shaking the container and removing the
required amount.
• The sediment produced on storage, if any,
must be easily resuspended by moderate
agitation of the container.
 Physical properties of suspension
• The product may be required to be thickened
in order to reduce the rate of settling of the
particles. The resulting viscosity must not be
so high that removal of the product from the
container and transfer to the site of
application are difficult.
• Suspended particles should be small and
uniformly sized in order to give a smooth,
elegant product, free from a gritty texture.
 Basic characters of suspension
• Particles should settle slowly.
• Formulation should allow the easy
redispersion of sedimented particles.
• A flocculated suspension is desirable than a
deflocculated suspension.
• A suspension should not be too viscous to
reduce the sedimentation rate.
• Suspension for internal use must be palatable,
for external use must be free from gritty
particles.
 Reasons for oral suspensions
• Certain drugs are chemically unstable when in
solution but stable when suspended.
• In many patients, the liquid form is preferred
over the solid form of same drug due to ease
of swallowing liquids.
• Resistance to hydrolysis and oxidation is
generally good in suspensions when compared
with that in respective aqueous solutions.
• The masking of disagreeable taste of poorly
tasting drug e.g. chloramphenicol.
 Disadvantages
• Sedimentation and compaction of sediment
(of dispersed phase) in suspension is known as
caking, frequently causes problems that are
not always easy to solve.
• Product is liquid and relatively bulky
compared to solid dosage forms.
• They are difficult to carry and there are
chances of breakage of container with the
complete loss of contents.
 Classification: Flocculated
• Particles form loose aggregates and form a
network like structure.
• The rate of sedimentation is high.
• Sediment is formed rapidly & redisperse
easily.
 Classification: Flocculated
• Sediment is loosely packed and a hard cake
does not form.
• Supernatant liquid is clear.
• The floccules stick to the sides of the bottle.
• Suspension is not pleasing in appearance.
 Classification: Deflocculated
• Particles exist as separate entities.
• The rate of sedimentation is slow.
• Sediment is slowly formed and difficult to
redisperse.
• Sediment is very closely packed and a hard
cake is formed.
 Classification: Deflocculated
• Supernatant liquid is not clear.
• The floccules do not stick to the sides of the
bottle.
• Suspension is pleasing in appearance.
 Flocculated

Deflocculated

Fig: The sediment behavior of flocculated and

deflocculated suspensions
Classification: Pharmaceutical Uses
Oral suspensions
• These suspensions are to be consumed by the
patient by oral route. Oral suspensions
generally contains flavoring agent &
sweetening agent to mask the bitter taste of
the drug.
• Nowadays, suspensions are available in the
market in dry powder form and these are
reconstituted by adding water . For example,
antibiotics as suspension for pediatric use.
Classification: Pharmaceutical Uses
Parenteral suspensions
• The suspensions which are administered by
parenteral route are called parenteral
suspensions.

Ophthalmic suspensions
• These are not commonly used as compared to
eye-drops. These are prepared only in those
cases, when the drug is insoluble in the
desired solvent or unstable in liquid forms.
Classification: Pharmaceutical Uses
Suspensions for external use
• These suspensions are intended for external
use. For example lotions, inhalations, ear
drops etc. These suspensions contain very
small particles to avoid grittiness.
 Packaging & storage
• Should be packaged in wide mouth containers
having adequate air space above the liquid.
• Should be stored in tight containers protected
from: freezing and excessive heat & light.
• Label "Shake Before Use" to ensure uniform
distribution of solid particles and thereby
uniform and proper dosage.
 Formulation of suspension
• Following excipients are commonly used in the
preparation of suspensions:
- Suspending agents
- Flocculating agents
- Wetting agents
 Suspending agents
• These are the substances which are added to a
suspension to increase the viscosity of the
continuous phase so that particles remain
suspended for a sufficiently long time and it
becomes easy to measure the accurate dose.
• Example:
Acacia, Tragacanth (Natural)
CMC, Na-CMC (Artificial)
 Flocculating agents
• These substances prevent the formation of
compact sediment- that is difficult to
redisperse. For example
Electrolyte
Surfactants
Polymers
 Wetting agents
• Make the powder more penetrable through
the continuous phase by displacing the air
around the particles.
• Example :
Glycerin, alcohol, glycol etc.
 Evaluation of suspensions
• Two parameters are commonly used:
- Sedimentation volume
- Degree of flocculation
 Sedimentation volume
• This parameter, described by the symbol F, is
defined as the ultimate volume of the
sediment, Vu, divided by the original volume,
Vo, of the suspension before settling.
Vu
F=
Vo
 Sedimentation volume
• The sedimentation volume, F, of a product
may have a volume of less than 1, more than
1, or equal to 1.
• When F=1, the sediment is equal to the total
volume of the suspension and the product is
said to be in a state of ‘flocculation
equilibrium’. Such a product is quite
acceptable from a pharmaceutical standpoint
because, on standing, it shows no sediment or
clear supernatant.
 Degree of flocculation
• A better parameter for evaluating flocculation
in a suspension is the degree of flocculation,
β, which describes the relationship between
the sedimentation volume of the flocculated
suspension, F, to the sedimentation volume of
the same suspension when deflocculated, Fα.

F= Vu V
Vo F =
Vo
 Degree of flocculation
• The ratio of F to Fα is the degree of
flocculation, β :
F
=
F

• Substituting for F and Fα we obtain-

= Vu

V

Ultimate sediment volume of flocculated suspension

=
Ultimate sediment volume of deflocculated suspension
 Stoke’s law
• Most important law that controls the
formulation of suspensions.
2r2 (P-P0) g
V=
9n
 Stoke’s law
In equation:
V = terminal velocity of fall of an average
particle in the dispersion.
r = radius of the particles
P = density of dispersed phase
Po= density of the continuous phase
g = gravity constant
η = viscosity of the dispersion medium
 Stoke’s law
• Particles are rigid and spherical and of uniform
sized
• Suspensions are dilute (<2% w/v)
• Particles do not flocculate i.e. free settling
occurs.
• No brownian movement
• No electrical effects
 Stoke’s law
In case of pharmaceutical preparations-
• Dispersion phase in suspension spherical and
in emulsion particles are not rigid as they are
liquid
• Their sizes are not uniform

So Stoke’s law is not exactly for pharmaceutical

dispersions.
 Stoke’s law
• But this law can be used to give good
indication of
-- factors that contribute to settling of particles
-- where adjustment is possible for better
preparation