DISPERSED SYSTEM

SUSPENSION & EMULSION

Dispersed System
Two Phases
Dispersed phase or discontinuous phase
Dispersed as particles or droplets
Particle size may vary from large to colloidal particles

Dispersion medium or continuous phase

Must be homogenous for at least the period

between shaking the container and removing the

desired or required amount.
Must bear the auxiliary label Shake Well

Dispersed System - Desirable Properties

Fine, Uniform sized particle
gives optimal dissolution and adsorption

Uniform dispersion of the particle in the liquid vehicle

ensures uniform mixture & uniform dose
wetting agent can be used improves the ability of water to wet

hydrophobic powder (ex. Na Lauryl sulfate)

Slow setting of particle (slow sedimentation rate)
fine, uniform size of particle
density of the liquid
Addition of viscosity-inducing agents/ suspending agents
Example: Acacia, tragacanth, Na CMC, CMC

Ease of Re-dispersion when the product is shaken

Solid should not form a hand cake on the bottom of the bottle when the

preparation is allowed to stand

Dispersed System
Suspension
Preparations containing finely divided drug particles
uniformly distributed throughput a vehicle where the
drug exhibits a minimum degree of solubility
Solid particles may slowly settle upon standing but
should be easily re-dispersed.
Types:
Dry powder or granules for reconstitution
Oral suspension

Dispersed System
Emulsions
Liquid preparations containing a mixture of oil and water
that is rendered homogenously by the addition of an
emulsifying agent.
The emulsifying agent ensures that the dispersed phase
is finely distributed throughout the dispersion medium
as small globules.
Two types:
O/W oil (dispersed phase) is dispersed through water (

continuous phase) common for oral preparations

W/O vice versa common for external-use preparation

Emulsion
Factors that determine the emulsion type:
Emulsifying agent
Phase ratio- Relative amount of oil and water
Order of mixing- the phase that is being added, usually by portions
tends to be the internal phase
Emulsifying Agent
surfactant that concentrate at the interface of 2 immiscible phases
reduce the interfacial tension between the immiscible phases
provide a barrier around the droplet

Emulsion
Desired Properties of Liquid
Emulsion
Fine droplet
Slow aggregation of the droplets

and creaming of the product

Ease of re-dispersion when shaken

Physical Instability:
Coalescence- merging of smaller

droplet with larger droplet;

eventually separation of phases
CRACKING
Creaming- migration of droplets on
top/bottom of emulsion

Methods of Emulsion Preparation

Continental or Dry Gum Method
1emulsion/nucleus = 4:2:1 (O:W:EA)

Order:

O+EA 1. Triturate acacia or other Emulsifying agent with oil

W
2. Add water (added all at once) triturate
immediately, rapidly and continuously until the 1
emulsion that form is creamy white & produces a
cracking sound

English or Wet Gum Method

1emulsion/nucleus = 4:2:1 (O:W:EA)

Order:

W+EA 1. Triturate emulsifying agent with water- mucilage

O
2. Add oil (added slowly in portions) triturate

Methods of Emulsion Preparation

Bottle or Forbes Method
Useful for extemporaneous preparation of emulsion from volatile oils

or oleaginous substance of lower viscosity

1emulsion/nucleus = 3:2:1 or 2:2:1 (O:W:EA)
Order:
O+EA 1. 1 part emulsifying agent + 2 parts oil- thoroughly
shaken in capped container
W
2. Add water in portions- the mixture being thoroughly
shaken after each addition

Nascent Soap/ In situ soap Method

Calcium Soap (W/O emulsion)

olive oil + water

Soap Emulsion
1:1
* The emulsifying agent is the Ca++ salt of the free fatty acids which is
formed from the combination of 2 entities

Rx 18A
Menthol

Eucalyptus Oil
Light MgCO3

H2O, qs ad

Original Amount

Required Amount

2g

600 mg

10mL

3mL

7g

2.1g

100mL

30mL

Use

Mitte 100mL
Sig. Place 1 tsp. to 1 pint of hot water and inhale the vapor for 5 mins

Procedure
1. Dissolve menthol in eucalyptus oil
2. Triturate MgCO3 into the mixture (in a separate container, add water to
MgCO3 and triturate to a smooth paste)
3. Qs ad water to 30mL
Remarks
Menthol- freely soluble in volatile oil
Light Magnesium carbonate- absorbs volatile component; diffusible solid
2 Types of Solid:
Diffusible Solid- not soluble in solvent; readily dispersed upon shaking
Indiffusible Solid- not soluble in solvent; doesnt dispersed easily; requires
use of suspending agent

Rx 18B
Phenacetin
(Indiffusible)
Caffeine
(Diffusible)
Orange syrup
Water, qs ad

Original
Amount
3g

Required
Amount
1g

Use

1g

0.33 g

Mild CNS stimulant

12 mL
90 mL

4 mL
30 mL

flavorant

Analgesic

+ 2% Acacia= 0.6g for 30mL

M. ft mixt
Sig. one tsp bid

Procedure:
1. Finely powder Phenacetin in a mortar
2. Add caffeine and acacia and orange syrup
3. Add vehicle and triturate to form smooth paste
4. qs ad water to final volume

Rx 19
Oil of Turpentine
(= 0.861g/mL)
Tragacanth
Syrup
Purified water, qs ad

Original
Amount
8g

Required
Amount
4.65 mL

1g
15 mL
60 mL

1.40 g
7.5 mL
30 mL

Use
stimulant,diuretic,
anthelmintic,carminative,
expectorant
emulsifying agent
sweetener

M. ft. emulsion
Sig. 1 tbsp bid

Procedure: Forbes/ Bottle Method

(O:W:EA = 3:2:1) (4.65mL: 3.1mL:1.6g)
1. Oil + emulsifying agent in portion with intermittent agitation
2. Add 2.7 mL of water
3. Add syrup in portions with mixing
4. Qs ad water to final volume

Rx 20
Zinc oxide
Calamine
Olive oil
Lime water

Original
Amount
8g

Required
Amount
4g

Use

8g

4g

30 mL

15 mL

Emollient

30 mL

15 mL

Protective
(gastric antacid)

Astringent,
antiseptic
Antipruritic

M.
Sig. Apply to affected area OD
Procedure: Nascent Soap
1. Triturate Zinc oxide and calamine
2. Add olive oil in portion with trituration to form slurry
3. Add lime water in portions with trituration

protective,