S1 Lab5 2
4002DFPHAR
PHYSICAL PHARMACEUTICS
Particle Size Analysis
The study of particle dimensions is important in many areas of manufacture and technology. Many solid materials are at some point powder or granular in form e.g. foods
(grain, flour, sugar), ceramics and building materials (sand and cement). In pharmaceutical development and manufacture, particle size greatly influences physical properties such as powder flow, powder mixing, drug dissolution, deposition from inhaler devices and the stability of suspensions. Thus, control of particle size is important for both the production of medicines containing particulate solids and for the safety and efficacy of the medicinal product following administration.
There are several methods that can be used to investigate the size and shape of particles.
These range from basic (generally older) techniques such as sieving and use of optical microscopes through to more advanced techniques, such as using a coulter counter, a scanning electron microscope or photon cross correlation spectroscopy. You will cover a range of techniques in the lectures that accompany this section of the module and you should refer to your lecture notes for further details.
The aim of this practical is to examine different techniques used in particle size analysis; ranging from simple (historical) techniques to those using state-of-the-art technology.
These techniques can be used to measure particle sizes of pharmaceutical active ingredients and excipients. The techniques are:
(i) a basic sieving method in which you will work together as a group to determine the range of particle sizes present in a given sample of material
(ii) a series of different techniques including microscopy, use of a coulter counter and a video demonstration of the NANOPHOX photon cross correlation spectroscopic instrument and (iii) a demonstration of a scanning electron microscope.
(Due to the complexity (and cost) of these instruments, some will be run as small group
PHYSICAL PHARMACEUTICS
Particle Size Analysis
The study of particle dimensions is important in many areas of manufacture and technology. Many solid materials are at some point powder or granular in form e.g. foods
(grain, flour, sugar), ceramics and building materials (sand and cement). In pharmaceutical development and manufacture, particle size greatly influences physical properties such as powder flow, powder mixing, drug dissolution, deposition from inhaler devices and the stability of suspensions. Thus, control of particle size is important for both the production of medicines containing particulate solids and for the safety and efficacy of the medicinal product following administration.
There are several methods that can be used to investigate the size and shape of particles.
These range from basic (generally older) techniques such as sieving and use of optical microscopes through to more advanced techniques, such as using a coulter counter, a scanning electron microscope or photon cross correlation spectroscopy. You will cover a range of techniques in the lectures that accompany this section of the module and you should refer to your lecture notes for further details.
The aim of this practical is to examine different techniques used in particle size analysis; ranging from simple (historical) techniques to those using state-of-the-art technology.
These techniques can be used to measure particle sizes of pharmaceutical active ingredients and excipients. The techniques are:
(i) a basic sieving method in which you will work together as a group to determine the range of particle sizes present in a given sample of material
(ii) a series of different techniques including microscopy, use of a coulter counter and a video demonstration of the NANOPHOX photon cross correlation spectroscopic instrument and (iii) a demonstration of a scanning electron microscope.
(Due to the complexity (and cost) of these instruments, some will be run as small group