Better drug design and delivery options can help improve the likelihood that patients will willingly take their medications as prescribed.

Suspensions are defined as finely divided undissolved drugs dispersed in liquid vehicles which can be a ready-to-use liquid suspension or reconstitution just before dispensing. Solutions are defined as liquid preparations in which the drug and the various excipients are dissolved in the suitable solvent or aqueous system.

There are several characteristics needed in these formulations to support the delivery and experience of the API, including:

• Wetting agent
• Suspending agent
• Buffer and preservatives
• Sweetener
• Color and flavor

DuPont can help you differentiate your offerings in this category with specialized solutions that provide many of the required functionalities.

• Colloidal Avicel^®: Co-processed microcrystalline cellulose and sodium carboxymethylcellulose or dispersible celluloses are used in pharmaceutical suspensions, emulsions, nasal sprays, and creams. The wide range of thixotropies, viscosities, gel strengths, and dispersion characteristics of this product line provides unparalleled functional versatility and physical stability of suspensions.

• METHOCEL™ water-soluble cellulose ethers: Used in suspension and solution formulations because they are excellent thickeners, improve emulsion stability, suspend solids, lubricate and retain moisture. The protective colloid action and emulsifying properties of METHOCEL™ also benefits many liquid formulations.
• WALOCEL™ C sodium carboxymethylcellulose: Can control the rheological (flow) properties in a variety of liquid dosage forms. Whenever viscosity control, suspension stabilization, water absorption or water retention is required, WALOCEL™ C is an excellent choice.
   

Benefits of Suspensions and Solutions:

• Preferred for patients, geriatric and pediatric, who have difficulty in swallowing solid oral solutions such as tablets and capsules
• Bioavailability is usually higher than most of the other delivery forms
• Improved chemical stability compared to other solutions
• Unpleasant taste can often be overcome by purposefully limiting the amount of drug in solution and by flavoring the liquid vehicle

Here’s how we can deliver the functionality and variety you need for your suspension and solution formulations.