SUSPENSIONS

SUSPENSIONS
are micro heterogeneous dispersion
systems consisting from solid
medicinal substances in the
suspended state, which are in the
liquid dispersion medium (water,
non-aqueous solvents).
 Suspensions are liquid medicinal forms
containing one or some powdered
medicinal substances, as a disperse phase
distributed in the liquid dispersion environment.
Advantages of suspensions
• Fast and complete manifestation of the therapeutic
action because of the possibility of introducing solid
insoluble substances into a liquid where they have a
high degree of dispersion ability.
• Prolongation of the action and the possibility to
regulate it duration by changing the particles size of a
medicinal substance.
• The possibility of correcting an unpleasant taste, smell
and colour of a medicinal substance due to introduction
of correcting agents into the suspension’s composition.
• Simplicity and convenience of their application in
pediatrics and gerontology.
Poisonous and strong-effective
substances don’t used in
suspensions, because difficult to
dose of them.
Suspensions are formed:
• when prescribing substances insoluble in the
formulated solvent
• when prescribing soluble substances in amounts
exceeding the limit of their solubility in the given
solvent
• a new compound insoluble in the given solvent is
formed because of the chemical interaction of
solutions with substances
• when the conditions of substances’ solubility are
worsened as the result of mixing two solutions
prepared with different solvents
STABILIZATION OF SUSPENSIONS
• To increase of the aggregation stability of suspensions
with hydrophobic substances, which do not form
protective hydrate layers on the surface, it is necessary to
lyophilize them, i.e. to add hydrophilic colloidal
substances (stabilizers). Natural or synthetic high-
molecular compounds (HMC): proteins, gelatosa,
vegetative slime, natural polysaccharide complexes,
methylcellulose, sodium - carboxymethylcellulose,
polyvinylpyrrolidon, polyglycine, tweens, spens,
bentonites, etc. are applied as stabilizers.
• The stabilization of these substances consists of
formation of hydrate layers on the surface of the
suspension’s particles, as well as in spanning of these
particles by long macromolecules.
The amount of a stabilizer for 1.0 g of a
hydrophobic substance
The name of a The amount of a stabilizer per 1.0 g of the substance
stabilizer
with distinctly expressed with poor expressed
hydrophobic properties: hydrophobic properties:
camphor, menthol terpin hydrate,
phenylsalicylate, etc.

Gelatose 1.0 0.5

5 % methylcellulose 2.0 1.0
solution
Tween-80 0.2 0.1
METHODS OF PREPARATION
SUSPENSIONS
Suspensions of medicinal substances are prepared
by two methods:
• Dispersion- The method of obtaining the
certain degree of dispersion by
powdering dry medicinal substances –
Rough suspensions- The method of “making
muddy”- for hydrophilic substances with a high
density (basic bismuth nitrate)
• Condensation- The method of formation
of large particles from molecules -
aggregates, due to the chemical
interaction or replacement of a solvent-
Thin suspensions- Suspensions are
formed:
• as a result of the chemical interaction;
• as a result of the solvent’s replacement
FORMULATION OF SUSPENSIONS
BY THE DISPERSION METHOD
Formulation of suspensions with
hydrophobic substances
• Stage I
Triturate a dry medicinal substance in the mortar
• Stage II
Triturate (according to the Deryagin rule) with
50% amount of the liquid (add 0.4-0.6 ml of a
liquid (40-60%) for 1.0 g of the powdered
substance)
• Stage III
Mix and dissolve in water (add water gradually)
and transfer into the bottle for dispensing
 Rp.: Zinci oxydi 10.0
Aquae purificatae 100 ml
Misce. Da. Signa. For washes.

WCP (front side)

Date № Pr.
Zinci oxydi 10.0
Aquae purificatae 100 ml
m total = 110.0

Prepared by: (Signature)

Checked by: (Signature)

Weigh 10.0 g of ZnO in the mortar, triturate it, measure 100 ml of the
purified water using a cylinder, add approximately 5 ml of the
purified water in the mortar according to the Deryagin rule, triturate
and then add gradually the remaining quantity of water. Pour the
suspension obtained into the bottle for dispensing.
• Stick the labels «External», «Shake well before use» and «Keep out
of the reach of children».
FORMULATION OF SUSPENSIONS
BY THE DISPERSION METHOD
Method of “making muddy” (“shaking”) is applied for preparing
suspensions with hydrophilic substances characterized by a great
density.
• Stage I
Triturate a solid medicinal substance in the mortar.
• Stage II
Triturate (according to the Deryagin rule) with 50% amount of the
liquid calculated by the amount of a dry substance (add 0.4-0.6 ml
of a liquid (40-60%) per 1.0 g of the powdered substance).
• Stage III
Add 5-10 % of the liquid to the mixture obtained, triturate, allow to
stand for 1-2 minutes.
• Stage IV
When the liquid is settled (the big particles settle at the bottom and
the thin particles are on the top of the surface), transfer it into the
bottle for dispensing.
The stages III-IV are repeated until all precipitate is transferred into a
thin dispersed state.
Rp.: Bismuthi subnitratis 2.0
Aquae Menthae 200 ml
Misce. Da. Signa. 1 tablespoon
3 times a day.
FORMULATION OF SUSPENSIONS
BY THE DISPERSION METHOD

Rp.: Therpini hydrati 2.0

Natrii hydrocarbonatis 1.0
Aquae purificatae 100 ml
Misce. Da. Signa. 1 tablespoon
3 times a day.
• The mixture is a suspension with terpin hydrate, a
substance with poor expressed hydrophobic properties.
Therefore, the suspension with terpin hydrate differs by
the tendency to flocculation and, as a result, the
tendency to fast sedimentation.
• Measure 80 ml of the purified water and 20 ml of the 5%
sodium hydrocarbonate solution into the bottle for
dispensing. Triturate 2.0 g of terpin hydrate with 10
drops of alcohol (because terpin hydrate is a poorly
powdered substance) in the mortar, then add 1.0 g of
gelatose and 1.5 ml of the sodium hydrocarbonate
solution (according to the Deryagin rule). Mix and
triturate all ingredients thoroughly until a homogeneous
mixture is obtained. Then add (by small portions) the
sodium hydrocarbonate solution, mix and pour the
suspension obtained into the bottle for dispensing.
 WCP (front side)
Date № Pr.
Aquae purificatae 80 ml
Solutionis Natrii hydrocarbonatis 5% 20ml
Therpini hydrati 2.0
Gelatosae 1.0
V total = 100 ml
Prepared by: (signature)
Checked by: (signature)
FORMULATION OF SUSPENSIONS
BY THE CONDENSION METHOD

Rp.: Calcii chloridi 10.0

Natrii hydrocarbonatis 4.0
Aquae purificatae 200 ml
Misce. Da. Signa. 1 tablespoon 3 times a
day.

СаCl2 + 2NaHCO3 = CaCO3↓ + H2O + 2NaCl

 WCP (reverse side)
Sol. Calcium chloride 50 % (1:2): 10.0  2 = 20 ml
Sol. Sodium hydrocarbonate 5 % (1:20): 4.0  20 =
80 ml
Purified water: 200 - (20+80) = 100 ml

• At first two solutions - calcium chloride solution

and sodium hydrocarbonate solution – should be
prepared and then mix these solutions. Measure
100 ml of the purified water into the bottle for
dispensing, add 20 ml of 50 % calcium chloride
solution and 80 ml of 5 % sodium hydrocarbonate
solution.
Quality Control of Suspensions
The following tests are carried out in the final quality control of
suspension:
• Appearance Color, odor and taste
• Physical characteristics such as particle size determination and
microscopic photography for crystal growth
• Sedimentation rate and
• Zeta Potential measurement
• Sedimentation volume
• Redispersibility and Centrifugation tests
• Rheological measurement
• Stress test pH
• Freeze-Thaw temperature cycling
• Compatibility with container and cap liner
Ideal Requirements of Packaging
Material
• It should be inert.
• It should effectively preserve the product from
light, air, and other contamination through shelf
life.
• It should be cheap.
• It should effectively deliver the product without
any difficulty.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION!!!