Physicochemical parameters as a predictive tool for optimum dispersion of active pharmaceutical ingredients

Abstract

Particle size analysis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) using wet dispersion is by far the most widespread method in the pharmaceutical industry. However, despite this being a well-established procedure, there are still no hard-and-fast rules which give an indication of which dispersing conditions may be most effective at dispersing the API particles prior to their application. Usually, the analyst takes a system specific approach, and tries a number of different dispersing liquid and surfactant combinations until the desired degree of dispersion is achieved. This study addressed the possibility of constructing a predictive model that may give an indication as to the effectiveness of a specific set of dispersion conditions prior to their application, particularly for dispersions in hydrophobic media.