Smt.
Kishoritai Bhoyar College Of Pharmacy,Kamptee
SUSPENSION AND CAPSULE AS A DOSAGE FORM
Prepared By:- Faizan Sayyad & Sagar
Dongarwar
[Link] 1st Year
Department of
SUSPENSION AS A DOSAGE FORM
INTRODUCTION
• A Pharmaceutical suspension is a heterogeneous system consisting of two phases in
which internal phase is dispersed uniformly throughout the external phase.
• • The internal phase consists of particulate matter that is essentially insoluble but
dispersed uniformly throughout the continuous phase with aid of single or
combination of suspending agent.
• • The external phase (suspending medium) is generally aqueous in some instance, may
be an organic or oily liquid for non-oral use.
SUSPENSION AS A DOSAGE FORM
The major limiting step in the absorption of a drug
from suspension dosage form is drug dissolution which
is generally rapid due to the surface area of the particles.
Important factors in the bioavailability of a drug from
suspensions include particle size, polymorphism, wetting
agents, viscosity of the medium, suspending agents etc.
Particle size and effective surface area of the dispersed
particle:smaller particle size and thus a large total surface
area facilitates dissolution and hence absorption of
drugs increases.
Crystal form of the drug: Some of the drug change their crystalline structure in a
suspension, which may not be desirable.
e.g. sulphathiazole can change to its other polymorphic forms and this can be
overcome by the addition of PVP.
Complexation: Formation of a non absorbable complex between the drug and the
other ingredients of the formulation leads to poor bioavailability. Inclusion of
surfactant as a wetting or flocculating agent.
Eg:Cyclodextrin,Potassium Iodide.
Viscosity of the suspension: In case of suspension an increase in viscosity could lead
to a decrease in the rate of dissolution of the drug in the GIT.
Classification
Based on General class
Oral Suspension
e.g. Antacid Suspension(Calcium Carbonate),AntiBacterial Suspension(Tetracycline HCL)
Externally Applied suspension
e.g. Calamine lotion
Parenteral Suspension
e.g. Insulin zinc suspension
Based on proportion of Solid Particles
Dilute Suspension (2 to 10% w/v solid)
e.g. cortisone acetate, predinsolone acetate
Concentrated Suspension (50% w/v solid)
e.g. Zinc oxide suspension
Based on electrokinetic nature of Solid particle
Flocculated Suspension
Deflocculated Suspension
Based on Size of Particle
Coarse Suspension
Suspensions having particle sizes of greater than about 1 micron in diameter are
called as coarse suspensions.
Eg:Magnesium Hydroxide Suspension.
Colloidal Suspension
Suspensions having particle sizes of suspended solid less than about 1 micron in size
are called as colloidal suspensions.
Eg:Kaolin Suspension,Silver Protein Suspension.
CAPSULE AS A DOSAGE FORM
Introduction
Capsules are solid oral dosage forms in which drugs are enclosed within a soluble shell
made of gelatin or polymeric materials (e.g., HPMC).
They are widely used due to their ease of administration, flexibility in formulation, and
efficient drug release, making them highly suitable for optimizing gastrointestinal (GI)
absorption.
Capsules also allow incorporation of a wide range of drug substances, including poorly
soluble drugs, moisture-sensitive drugs, and liquid or semi-solid formulations, which
may not be easily formulated into tablets.
HARD GELATIN CAPSULE
Powders and granules are administered as hard gelatin capsules.
The hard gelatin shell should disrupt rapidly and allow the contents to be mixed with
the GIT contents.
The capsule contents should not be subjected to high compression forces which
would tend to reduce the effective surface area, thus a capsule should perform better
than a tablet.
This is not always the case, if a drug is hydrophobic a dispersing agent should be
added to the capsule formulation.
These diluents will work to disperse the powder, minimize aggregation and maximize
the surface area of the powder.
Tightly packed capsules may have reduced dissolution and bioavailability.
It is usually necessary to have a suitable diluent in a capsule dosage form, particularly when the drug is
hydrophobic. Figure shows the change in dissolution rate that can be affected by the incorporation of
hydrophilic diluents.
The diluent serves to disperse the drug particles, minimize aggregation, and maximize the effective
surface area and dissolution rate.
The incorporation of a wetting agent in the formulation may also be advantageous.
Other attempts to modify the wetting characteristics of poorly water-soluble drugs have included
treating the drug with a solution of a hydrophilic polymer such as methylcellulose.
Phenytoin was found to dissolve and be absorbed considerably faster from capsules containing drug
treated with methylcellulose compared to capsules containing untreated drug.
FORMULATION FACTORS AFFECTING BIOAVAILABILITY
OF HARD GELATIN CAPSULES:
Generally, the bioavailability of a drug from a hard gelatin capsules will be better than or
equal to that of same drug in a compacted tablet.
FACTORS:
Dissolution rate of gelatin shell.
The rate of penetration of Gl fluids into encapsulated mass.
The rate at which the mass disaggregates in the Gl fluid.
The rate of dissolution of dispersed drug particles.
Packing density of the capsule contents.
Inclusion of excipients in the capsule formulation. and effect of excipients.
SOFT GELATIN CAPSULE
Soft gelatin capsule has a gelatin shell thicker than hard gelatin capsules, but shell is
plasticized by adding glycerin, sorbitol.
Soft gelatin capsules may be used to contain non aqueous solution or liquid or semi
solid.
Soft gelatin capsules have a better bioavailability than powder filled hard gelatin
capsules and are equivalent to emulsions.
Example:
Quinine derivative was better absorbed from soft gelatin capsules containing drug
base compared with hard gelatin capsules containing HCl salt.
FORMULATION FACTORS AFFECTING BIOAVAILABILITY
OF SOFT GELATIN CAPSULES:
Solubility of drug in vehicle.
Dissolution and splitting of flexible shell.
Nature of the vehicle.
Inclusion of a surfactant as a wetting or emulsifying agent.
Particle size, density, crystal form of the drug, selection of diluents etc.,
influence bioavailability of soft gelatin capsules.
Advantages of Capsules in Drug Absorption
Faster onset (compared to tablets in many cases)
Flexible formulation (powder, granules, liquids)
Better patient compliance
Can modify drug release profile easily
Limitations
Sensitive to humidity and temperature
Not suitable for very hygroscopic or reactive drugs
Gelatin capsules may not be suitable for vegetarians (alternative: HPMC capsules)
REFERENCE:-
Hasan, M.M., Rahman, M.M., Islam, M.R., Hasan, H., Hasan, M.M. and Rashid,
H.A., 2017. A key approach on dissolution of pharmaceutical dosage forms.
Pharma Innov J, 6(9), pp.168-80.
Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacokinetics ,Fourth edition by Milo Gibaldi.