Semisolids

(Dr.) Mirza Salman Baig

Assistant Professor (Pharmaceutics)
AIKTC, School of Pharmacy,New Panvel
Affiliated to University of Mumbai (INDIA)

 Ointments, creams and gels are

semisolid dosage forms intended
for topical (external ) application.
They may be applied to the skin,
placed onto the surface of the eye,
or used nasally, vaginally or rectally.

Ointments
Ointments

Creams
Creams

Gels
Gels

Topical preparations are used for both

local and systemic effects.
A topical dermatological product is
designed to deliver drug on the skin
in treating dermal disorders.
A transdermal product is designed
to deliver drugs through the skin
(percutaneous absorption) to the
general circulation for systemic
effects, with the skin not being the
target organ.

Therapeutic use
Antibiotic
Anti-Inflammatory
Antipruritic
Astringent
Keratolytic
Counter-irritant

I. Ointments
Ointments are semisolid preparations
intended for external application to the
skin or mucous membranes.
F Ointments may be medicated or
nonmedicated.
F Nonmedicated ointments are used
for the physical effects that they
provide as protectants, emollients or
lubricants.

Ointment bases
Ointments bases are classified by
the
USP
into
four general
groups:
-

Oleaginous bases
absorption bases
water-removable bases
water-soluble bases

1) Oleaginous bases
Oleaginous bases are
Hydrocarbon bases.
On application to the skin
emollient effect

also termed

occlusive dressings

protect against the escape of moisture

Petrolatum (soft paraffin)

is a purified mixture of semisolid
hydrocarbons
obtained from
petroleum.
It is an unctuous mass, varying in color
from yellowish to light amber
It melts at temperatures between 380C
and 600C and may be used alone or in
combination with other agents as an
ointment base.
A commercial product is Vaseline.

White Petrolatum

(soft paraffin)

is a purified mixture of semisolid

hydrocarbons from petroleum that
has
been
wholly
or nearly
decolorized by bleaching yellow soft
paraffin
It is never used in ophthalmic
preprations
It is used for the same purpose as
petrolatum. A commercial product is
White Vaseline.

Hard paraffin
MP> 35-750C
Ozokerite is mined wax 65-750C

Miniral oil (liquid paraffin)

l

Mixture
of
liquid hydrocarbons
obtained
from
petroleum by
distillation
l Colourless, tasteless and transparent
l sp gravity 0.84-0.90
l blending it with petrolatum give
variable consistency

Bees wax
is mixture (1000g) of yellow wax
(50g) and petrolatum (950g).
It is the purified wax obtained from
the honeycomb of the bee.
The ointment is prepared by melting
the yellow wax on a water bath,
adding the petrolatum until the
mixture is uniform, then cooling with
stirring until congealed.

2)

Absorption bases

They have tendency to absorb water

and retain ointment like consistency
Types of absorption bases
Non emulsified (produce w/o emulsion)
Wool fat (anhydrous lanolin)
Wool alcohol (30% cholesterol)
Bees wax

Emulsified
Lanolin

Absorption bases
may be used as emollients;
are not easily removed from the skin
with water washing since the external
phase of the emulsion is oleaginous;
are useful as pharmaceutical adjuncts
to
incorporate
small
volumes of
aqueous solutions into hydrocarbon
bases.
l Nonemulsified
l Emulsified

Anhydrous lanolin
Lanolin

Hydrophilic petrolatum
Hydrophilic petrolatum, USP has the
following formula for the preparation
of 1000 g:
Cholesterol
Stearyl alcohol
White wax
White petrolatum

30 g
30 g
80 g
860 g

It is prepared by melting the stearyl alcohol

and the white wax on a steam bath, adding
the cholesterol with stirring until dissolved,
adding the white petrolatum and allowing
the mixture to cool while being stirred until
congealed.

Lanolin
obtained from the wool of sheep;
is a purified, wax-like substance that
has been cleaned, deodorized, and
decolorized.
It contains not more than 0.25%
water.
Additional
water
may be
incorporated into lanolin by mixing.
Hydrous lanolin is w/oemulsion with
ability to abbsorb

Anhydrous Lanolin
It is capable of absorbing 30-40%
water
maximum amount of water that can
be added to 100g of base at given
temp is water no.

3) Emulsion bases
Also known as Water-removable bases

External phase of the emulsion is aqueous,

they are easily washed from skin
Cream like consistency
Often called water washable bases.
It form semipermeable film on skin

Insoluble in water

Water washable

Contains water

Can absorb water

Non-occlusive

Non-greasy

Vanishing cream
after application on skin there is
no visible evidence

Hydrophilic ointment
Hydrophilic ointment has the following
formula for the preparation of about 1000 g:
Methylparaben
Propylparaben
Sodium lauryl sulfate
Propylene glycol
Stearyl alcohol
White petrolatum
Purified water

0.25g
0.15g
10g
120g
250g
250g
370g

In preparating the ointment, the stearyl

alcohol and white petrolatum are melted
together at about 750C.
The other agents, dissolved in the
purified water, are added with stirring
until the mixture congeals.

4) Water-soluble bases
Water-soluble
bases
do
not contain
oleaginous components.
They are completely water-washable and
often referred to as greaseless.
They soften greatly with the addition of water.
They mostly are used for the incorporation
of solid substances.
No water required for preparation
Polyethylene glycol/Macrogol

Polyethylene glycol ointment

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a polymer of ethylene
oxide and water represented by the formula:
H(OCH2CH2)nOH in which n represents the average
number of oxyethylene groups.

Molecular weights below 600 are clear, colorless

liquids;
Those with molecular weights above 1000 are waxlike white materials;
Those with molecular weights in between are
semisolids.

Oleaginous
Ointment Bases

Absorption Ointment
Bases

Water/Oil Emulsion
Ointment Bases

Oil/Water Emulsion
Ointment Bases

Water-soluble
Ointment
Bases

Composition

oleaginous
compounds

oleaginous base +
w/o surfactant

oleaginous base +
water (< 45% w/w) +
w/o surfactant (HLB
<8)

oleaginous base + water

(> 45% w/w) + o/w
surfactant (HLB >9)

Polyethylene
Glycols (PEGs)

Water Content

anhydrous

anhydrous

hydrous

hydrous

anhydrous,
hydrous

Affinity for Water

hydrophobic

hydrophilic

hydrophilic

hydrophilic

hydrophilic

Spreadability

difficult

difficult

moderate to easy

easy

moderate to
easy

Washability

nonwashable

nonwashable

non- or poorly
washable

washable

washable

Stability

oils poor;
hydrocarbons
better

oils poor;
hydrocarbons better

unstable, especially
alkali soaps and
natural colloids

unstable, especially alkali

soaps and natural
colloids; nonionics better

stable

Drug
Incorporation
Potential

solids or oils (oil

solubles only)

solids, oils, and

aqueous solutions
(small amounts)

solids, oils, and

aqueous solutions
(small amounts)

solid and aqueous

solutions (small amounts)

solid and
aqueous
solutions

Drug Release
Potential*

poor

poor, but >

oleaginous

fair to good

fair to good

good

Occlusiveness

yes

yes

sometimes

no

no

Uses

protectants,
emollients (+/-),
vehicles for
hydrolyzable drugs

protectants,
emollients (+/-),
vehicles for aqueous
solutions, solids, and
non-hydrolyzable
drugs

emollients, cleansing
creams, vehicles for
solid, liquid, or nonhydrolyzable drugs

emollients, vehicles for

solid, liquid, or nonhydrolyzable drugs

drug vehicles

White Petrolatum,
White Ointment

Hydrophilic
Petrolatum,
Anhydrous Lanolin,
Aquabase,
Aquaphor,
Polysorb

Cold Cream type,

Hydrous Lanolin,
Rose Water Ointment,
Hydrocream,
Eucerin, Nivea

Hydrophilic Ointment,
Dermabase, Velvachol,
Unibase

PEG Ointment,
Polybase

Examples

Selection of the appropriate

base
Desired release rate of the drug
substance from the ointment base;
Desirability
for
topical or
percutaneous drug absorption;
Desirability of occusion of moisture
from the skin;

 Stability of the drug in the ointment

base;
Effect of the drug on the consistency
or other features of the ointment
base
The desire for a base that is easily
removed by washing with water.

Preparation of ointments
Ointments are prepared by two
general methods:
- Incorporation
- Fusion
The method used depends primarily
on the nature of the ingredients.

Incorporation
By
the
incorporation
method, the
components are mixed until a uniform
preparation is attained.
Incorporation of solids:
The ointment base is placed on one side
of the working surface and the powdered
components, previously reduced to fine
powders and thoroughly blended in a
mortar, on the other side.

 A small portion of the powder is

mixed with a portion of the base until
uniform.
The process is continued until all
portions of the powder and base are
combined
and
thoroughly and
uniformly blended.

The drug (the

pink powder) is
usually the
smaller quantity
of the two
ingredients.

Add an amount of the

ointment that is
approximately equal
in size to the drug.

Spatulate the
mixture.

Add a second
portion of the
ointment to the
spatulated mixture
that is about the
same size.
Spatulate the
mixture.

Continue adding
until all of the
ointment is used.
Spatulate after each
addition.

 It often is desirable to reduce the

particle
size
of
a
powder or
crystalline
material before
incorporation into the ointment base
so that the final product will not be
gritty.
This may be done by levigating or
mixing the solid material in a vehicle
in which it is insoluble to make a
smooth dispersion.

 The amount of levigating agent used

should be about equal in volume to the
solid material.
A mortar and pestle is used for levigation.
This allows both reduction of particle size
and the dispersion of the substance in the
vehicle.
After
levigation,
the
dispersion is
incorporated into the ointment base by
spatulation or with the mortar and pestle
until the product is uniform.

Incorporation of liquids:
Liquid substances or solutions of drugs
are added to an ointment only after
due consideration of an ointment
base s capacity to accept the volume
required.
When it is necessary to add an
aqueous preparation to a hydrophobic
base, the solution first may be
incorporated
into
a minimum
amount of a hydrophilic base and
then that mixture added to the
hydrophobic base.

Alcoholic solutions of small volume

may
be
added
quite
well to
oleaginous
vehicles
or emulsion
bases.
On a large scale, roller mills force
coarsely formed ointments through
stainless steel rollers to produce
ointments
that
are
uniform in
composition and smooth in texture.

Fusion
By the fusion method, all or some of
the components of an ointment are
combined by being melted together
and cooled with constant stirring
until congealed.
Medicated ointments and ointment
bases
containing
components as
beeswax, paraffin, stearyl alcohol,
and
high
molecular weight
polyethylene glycols, which do not
lend themselves well to mixture by
incorporation, are prepared by fusion.

 On a small scale, the fusion process

may be conducted in a porcelain dish
or glass beaker.
On a large scale, it is carried out in
large steam-jacketed kettles.
Once congealed, the ointment may be
passed through an ointment mill (in
large-scale manufacture) or rubbed
with a spatula or in a mortar (in smallscale preparation) to ensure a uniform
texture.

III. Creams
Pharmaceutical creams
are
medicated or non medicated
semisolid
emulsions
intended for
application
on
skin
or mucous
membrane.

Types of cream
Oily creams (w/o)
wool fat, wool alcohol, sorbitan (Span)

Aqueous creams (o/w)

Hydrophilic surfactant, non ionic
surfactant (Tween)

Container

Classification of Creams

Sterol creams
Soap creams
Cationic Emulsifying Wax cream
Anionic Emulsifying Wax cream
Creams emulsified with Non-ionic Surfactant

Sterol creams
W/O
Wool fat / Wool Alcohol
Fusion method
Wool fat cream (Proflavin cream
BPC)

Soap creams
Fatty acid is melted with oil
Triethanol amine is mixed with water
and heated to same temp.
Both phases mixed
Borax Cream

Anionic/Cationic/non ionic
Emulsifying Wax cream
Cetrimide cream (cationic)
Aqueous cream (Emulsifying oint
Anionic)
Sorbitan mono-oleate cream

Planatery Mixer

IV. Gels
Gels are
transparent or
translucent
semisolid, collidal
dispersions of liquid
in solid.

Gelling agents
Natural- Alginate, Agar,
Tragacanth
Semisenthetic- CMC, SCMC,
HPMC
Synthetic- Carbomer,
Poloxamer

Compounding

Medicated gels may be prepared for

administration
by
various routes
including topically to the skin, to the
eye, nasally, vaginally, and rectally.
eye

skin
nasally
vaginally, rectally

Lubricating gel
Tragacanth
Glycerol
Methyl Paraben
Propyl Paraben
Water

3gm
25gm
70gm
30gm
100ml (qs)

PASTES
Semisolid containing high percentage
of insoluble solid material (20-50%)
Soft enough to extrude from
collapsible tube.
Good adhesion over skin
Preferd for oozing lesion toabsorb
secretion
Paste form porous layer

Bases for pastes

Hydrocarbon base
Soft paraffin (Compound Zinc Oxide
pasteB.P.)

Water miscible base

Emulsifying Ointment (Resorcinol &
Sulphur paste B.P.C.)

Water soluble
Na CMC (Triamnisolone dental Paste)

Compound ZnO paste

ZnO
Salicylic acid
Starch
Soft Paraffin

24gm
02gm
24gm
50gm