This document provides an overview of semi-solid dosage forms. It defines semi-solids as products that tend to alleviate or treat pathological conditions when applied to the skin or mucous membranes. Ideal properties include a smooth texture, elegant appearance, and non-irritating qualities. Common types are ointments, creams, pastes, gels, and suppositories. Formulation involves selecting appropriate bases, preservatives, and other excipients. Methods of preparation include size reduction, levigation, mixing, homogenization, and filling. Evaluation tests physical properties, drug release, and stability.

1. Presented By:
Khadija Begum
Departmernt of pharmacy
University of karachi

2. • Definition
• Ideal properties of semi solid dosage form
• Advantage And Disadvantage
• Classification
• Formullation
• Method Of Prepration
• Evaluation Of Semi Solid Dosage Form

3. Semi solid pharmaceutical
system comprise a body of
product ,which when applied to
skin or accessible mucous
membranes tends to allevate or
treat a pathological condition
or other protection against
harmful enviroment..

4. Physical properties
a) Smooth texture
b) Elegant in
appearence
c) Non dehydrating
d) Non gritty
e) Non greasy and non
staining
f) Non hygroscopic
Physiological
properties
a) Non irritating
b) Do not alter
membrane function
c) Miscible with skin
secretion
Application properties
a. Easy applicable with efficient drug release
b. High aqueous washibility

5. Ointment Creams Pastes Gels
Poultices Plaster Suppositories

6. Ointments are homogenous, translucent, viscous, semi
solid preparation intended for external application to
skin or mucous membranes. Ointment may be
medicated or not..
Applied to mucous membrane or skin
Uses
Emollient
Applcation for active ingredients to the skin
Occulsive

7. Viscous semi solid emulsion with opaque appearance
as
Contrasted with translucent ointments
Consistency depends on whether the cream is W/O
or O/W
W/O Creams O/W Creams
Contain lipophyllic
emulsifying agent
Contains O/W
emulsifying agent
Used as emollient or as
cleansing agent
O/W creams are elegant
drug delivery system

8. Contains high percentage of insoluble
solid(usually 50% or more)
Pastes are usually prepared by
incorporating solids directly into a
congealed system by levigation with a
portion of base to form paste like mass.
They have good adhesion on skin and
less greasy.

9. i. Gels are semi solid system in which liquid phase is
constrained
ii. With a 3-d polymeric matrix having a high degree
of physical
iii. Or chemical cross linking
iv. Gels are aqueous colloidal system of hydrated
forms of insoluble medicaments.
v. Jellies are transparent or translucent non greasy
semisolid and contain more water than gels.
vi. Used for medication,lubrication and carrier for
spermicidal agents to be used intra vaginally with
diaphargm..

10. 1. They are solid masses of solid matter applied to skin in
order to
2. Reduce inflammation and in some cases to act as a
counter irritant.
3. Poultices must retain heat for a considerable time.
4. After heating the preparation is spread on dressing and
applied to the affected area .
5. E.g: Kaolin poultice (B.P.C)

11. Plasters are solid or semi solid masses made
by incorporating medicaments in the
resinous or waxy bases which are melted or
spread on suitable baking material..
They are generally used to,
Afford protection and medicinal support.
Furnish on occlusive and mecerating
action.
Bring medication in to close contact with
the surface of skin.

12. It is solid or stiffened semi solid dosage form intended to insertion
on body orifices where they melt,soften and dissolve
and exert local or systemic effect.
Rectal suppositories
Pessaries
Urethral bougies
Nasal bougies
Ear cones

13. Ingredients used in preparation of semi
solid dosage form:
Active pharmaceutical ingredients
Bases
Preservatives
Humectants
Anti oxidants
Emulsifier
Gelling agent
Permeation enhancer
Buffers

14. It is one of the most important ingredient used in the
formulation of semisolid dosage form
Ointments and suppository base do not merely acts as the
carrier of the medicaments, but they also control the extent
of absorbtion of medicaments incorporated with them

15. They should be:
 Compatible with skin ph and drug
 Inert ,non irritating and non sensitizing
 Good solvent and/or emulsifying agent
 Emollient , protective , non greasy and easily removable
 Release medicaments easily at the site of administration
 Pharmaceutical elegant and possess good stability.

16. BASES
OLEAGENOUS
BASE
ABSORBTION
BASE
EMULSION
BASE
WATER
SOLUBLE
BASE

17. Oleaginous ( hydrocarbon)
bases:
They consist of a combination of more than one oleaginous material
such as water insoluble hydrophobic oils and fats
They are highly compatible ; occlusive ; good emollients
They are anhydrous, do not absorb water, readily(hydrophobic)
insoluble in water, non washable
Example : Vaseline,hard parafin, liquid paraffin,white ointment.
Uses : protective, emollient and vehicle for solid drugs.

18. Absorption (Emulsifiable) base:
Have capacity to absorb considerable quantities of water or
aqueous solution and turns to w/o without marked changes in the
consistency.
They are anhydrous, water insoluble and water unwashable.
They have good emollient but poor occlusive property.
Uses: protective, emollient and vehicle for aqueous solutions and
solid drug.

19. Emulsion bases:
According to the type of emulsion these bases are classified as
either W/O or O/W.
W/O EMULSION BASE O/W EMULSION BASE
Hydrous Hydrous
Will absorb water Will absorb water
Insoluble in water Insoluble in water
Not washable washable

20. Water soluble Bases:
 These include both hydrous and non hydrous dermatological non-
emulsion bases which are water soluble and contain no oil phase.
 Water soluble, water washable, non greasable
 Because they softens with the addition of water, large amount of
aqueous solutions are not effectively incorporated into the bases.
Example : carbowax compounds such as the poly ethylene glycol bases
containing pectin, cellulose, bentonite and gelatin.

21. Some bases , although, resist microbial attack but because
of their high water content, it require an anti microbial
preservative.
Commonly used preservative include:
Methyl hydroxy benzoate
Propyl hydroxy benzoate
Chlorocresol
Benzoic acid
Phenyl mercuric nitrate

22. Oxygen is highly reactive atom that is capable of becoming of
potentially damaging molecules commonly called “free radicals”.
Free radicals are capable of attacking the healthy cells of the
body, causing them to loose their structure and functions
To prevent this an anti oxidant are added.
Example : Butylated hydroxy anisole , Butylated hydroxy
toluene

23. CLASSIFICATION OF
ANTIOXIDANT
ANTIOXIGENS REDUCING
AGENT
ANTIOXIDANT
SYNERGIST
Acts by reacting
with the free
radicals.
e.g.
•Butylated hydroxy
anisole (BHA)
•Butylated hydroxy
tocopherols (BHT)
(used for oil system)
Have lower redox
potential than
drug,hence gets
oxidized first.
e.g.
•Ascorbic acid
•Potassium and
sodium
metabisulfite
•Thiosulfite
(used for aqueous
system)
Chelating or
sequestering
agents, enhance the
effect of anti
oxidants.
e.g.
•Citric acid
•Tartaric acid
•Lacithin

24. Gelling agents
 Gelling agent forms a gel dissolves in a liquid phase as a
colloid mixture that forms a weakly cohesive internal
structure.
 These are organic hydro colloids or hydro phillic inorganic
substances.
Example : tragacanth, sodium alginate, pectin, gelatin,
cellulose derivatives.
Material % Brook field
viscosity
Carbomer 94 1 resin NF 0.15 2900
Carbomer 94 1 resin NF 0.25 6300
Guar gum 1.50 8040
Methyl cellulose 2.00 5200
Sodium alginate 2.50 10400

25. Permeation enhancer
Skin can acts as a barrier with the
introduction of various panetration
enhancers, panetration of the drug through
the skin can be improved.
Permeation enhancer Drug used
Methanol,carvacrol,
linalool
Propranolol hydrochloride
Limonene Indomethacin , ketoprofin
Geraniol
Nerolidol
Diclofenic sodium
Oleic acid Piroxicam

26. Anionic Cationic Non ionic
•Alkyl sulphates
•Soaps
•D odecyl
benzene
•Sulfonates
•Lactylates
•Sulfosuccinates
•Monoglycerides
•Sulfonates
•Phosphate
esters
•Silicones
•Taurates
•Quaternary
ammonium
compounds
•alkoxyalkylamin
es
•Polyoxyethylene
•Alkyl-aryl
ethers
•Polyoxy
ethylene
•Sorbitan esters
•Sorbitan fatty
acid esters
•Glyceryl fatty
acid esters

27. A humectant is a hygroscopic substance . It is
often a molecule with several hydrophilic
groups, most often hydroxl group.
Humectants are used to:
 Increase the solubility of active ingredients
 To elevate its skin preparation
 Elevate the hydration of the skin.

28. Buffers are added to variopus purpose such as:
 Compatibility with skin
 Drug solubility
 Drug Stability
 Influence on ionization of drug
Example: Sodium acetate , Sodium Citrate , Potassium meta
phosphate

29. Purified water
Water for Injection
Water for injection may be used in
ophthalmic semi solid preparation like eye
ointments , gels etc

30. SIZE REDUCTION
LEVIGATION
MIXING WITH BASE
SPATULATION OR TRITURATION
MIXING BASE TO PRODUCE
FINAL WEIGHT
HOMOGENIZATION
FILLING