Chapter 7

Aerosols, Sprays and Inhalations

Section1:
Definition
Pharmaceutical Aerosols
PHARMACEUTICAL AEROSOLS are pressurized
dosage forms containing one or more active ingredients
which upon actuation emit a fine dispersion of liquid
and/or solid materials in a gaseous medium.
They depend upon the function of the container, its
valve assembly, and an added component--the
propellant--for the physical delivery of the medication
in proper form.

 An equilibrium is quickly established between that

portion of propellant which remains liquefied and that
which vaporizes
The vapor phase exerts pressure in all directions-against the walls of the container, the valve assembly,
and the surface of the liquid phase
It is this pressure that upon actuation of the aerosol
valve forces the liquid phase up the dip tube and out
of the orifice of the valve into the atmosphere.

 As the propellant meets the air, it immediately

evaporates due to the drop in pressure, leaving the
product concentrate as airborne liquid droplets or
dry particles, depending upon the formulation.
As the liquid phase is removed from the container,
equilibrium between the propellant remaining
liquefied and that in the vapor state is reestablished.

 Thus even during expulsion of the product from the

aerosol package, the pressure within remains virtually
constant, and the product may be continuously released
at an even rate and with the same propulsion.
However, when the liquid reservoir is depleted, the
pressure may not be maintained, and the gas may be
expelled from the container with diminishing pressure
until it is exhausted.

 Features of the Aerosol Dosage Form

Some features of pharmaceutical aerosols that may be
considered advantages over other types of dosage
forms are as follows:
1. A portion of medication maybe easily withdrawn
from the package without contamination or
exposure to the remaining material.

2. By virtue of its hermetic character, the aerosol

container protects medicinal agents adversely affected
by atmospheric oxygen and moisture.
Being opaque, the usual aerosol container also protects
drugs adversely affected by light.
If the product is packaged under sterile conditions,
sterility may also be maintained during the shelf-life of
the product.

3. Topical medication may be applied in a uniform, thin

layer to the skin, without touching the affected area.
Reduce the irritation
The rapid volatilization of the propellant also
provides a cooling, refreshing effect.

4. By proper formulation and valve control, the physical

form and the particle size of the emitted product may
be controlled which may contribute to the efficacy of a
drug.
Through the use of metered valves, dosage may be
controlled.
5. Aerosol application is a "clean" process, requiring
little or no "wash-up" by the user.

6. Have a immediate effect and can distributing the

medicaments to the certain tissues of the region.
Bigger absorption area; abundant blood
circulation; smaller resistance of penetration.
7. Drug can avoid to be destroyed or inactivated by
the pH or enzymatic activity of the stomach or
intestines, also can avoid the first pass effect.

The influencing factors of absorption

The air current of breath: the amount of inspiration
and frequency of breath.
Particle size: most 5m, must be smaller than 10m.
The features of drug: solubility; molecular weight,
oil-solubility (Ko/w), moisture absorption.

Disadvantages of the pharmaceutical aerosol:

High cost.
Because of the volatility, the propellants has the
refrigeration effect which can irritate the skin.
To certain individuals, who may be sensitive to the
propellant agent and who utilize an inhalation
aerosol, the fluorinated hydrocarbons may exhibit
cardiotoxic effects following rapid and repeated use
of the aerosol product.

 Aerosol Systems
TWO-PHASE SYSTEMS
This system is comprised of the liquid phase,
containing the liquefied propellant and product
concentrate, and the vapor phase.

THREE-PHASE SYSTEMS
This system is comprised of a layer of waterimmiscible liquid propellant, a layer of highly
aqueous product concentrate, and the vapor phase.

Emulsion or
suspension

 The Aerosol principle

An aerosol formulation consists of two component
parts, the product concentrate and the propellant.
1 The product concentrate is the active ingredient of
the aerosol combined with the required adjuncts,
such as antioxidants, surface-active agents, and
solvents, to prepare a stable and efficacious product.

2 the propellant
When the propellant is a liquefied gas or a mixture
of liquefied gases, it frequently serves the dual role
of propellant and solvent or vehicle for the product
concentrate.
In certain aerosol systems, no liquefied compressed
gases, as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and nitrous
oxide, are employed as the propellant.

Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs).
The most used propellant in aerosol products
However these propellants are being phased out and
will be prohibited due to scientific recognition that
they reduce the amount of ozone in the stratosphere,
which results in an increase in the amount of
ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth, an increase
in the incidence of skin cancer, and other adverse
environmental effects.

Among the chlorofluorocarbons used as propellants

in pharmaceuticals are
dichlorodifluoromethane,
dichlorotetrafluoroethane,
trichloromonofluoromethane.

How to determine
vapor
pressure
of a
Example
1:What is the
a vapor
pressure
of a 60:40
mixture of propane and isobutane. Information on two
certain mixture?
propellants is as follows:
Property

propane

isobutane

Molecular formula

C3H8

C4H10

Molecular weight

44.1

58.1

Boiling point( )

-43.7

10.9

Vapor pressure(psig@70 )

110

30.4

Liquid density(g/ml @70 )

0.50

0.56

Flash point( )

-156

-117

 Assume an ideal solution.

For Raoults law, we need to determine the number
of moles of each propellants:

n propane
n isobu tan e

60

1.36
44.1
40

0.69
58.1

From Raoults law, the partial pressure exerted by

the propane is:

Ppropane

n propane
n propane n isobu tan e

P propane

1.36

110 72.98 psi

1.36 0.69

The partial pressure exerted by the isobutane is:

Pisobu tan e

n isobu tan e

Pisobu tan e
n propane n isobu tan e

0.69

30.4 10.23 psi

1.36 0.69

The vapor pressure exerted by both gases, P T, is:

Daltons
law

PT=72.98+10.23=83.21psi at 70

The vapor pressure required for a specific

application can be calculated in a similar
manner and different ratios of propellants
may be used to obtain that pressure.

 Pressurized containers
Various materials have been used in the
manufacture of aerosol containers, including
(1)glass, uncoated or plastic coated;
(2)metal, including tin-plated steel, aluminum, and
stainless steel;
(3)plastics

 The selection of the container for an aerosol product is

based on
its adaptability to production methods
compatibility with formulation components
ability to sustain the pressure intended for the product
the interest in design
aesthetic appeal on the part of the manufacturer
cost

 Valve assembly
The function of the valve assembly is to permit the
expulsion of the contents of the can in the desired
form, at the desired rate, and, in the case of metered
valves, in the proper amount or dose.
Among the materials used in the manufacture of the
various valve parts are plastic, rubber, aluminum,
and stainless steel.

the link between the

hold the
valve
in
supports
the
actuator
dip tube and the stem
and
delivers
theby which
theplace
mechanism
and
actuator
formulation
the when
the
actuator in
retracts
proper
to the
pressureform
is released,
chamberreturning
of the actuator
thereby
the
valve
to the
bring
the closed
formulation
position
from the container to
the valve

the button that the

user presses to activate
leakage of
theprevent
valve assembly
for
formulation
thethe
emission
of the
when the valve is in
product
the closed position.

Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs)

 Filling Operations
COLD FILLING
PRESSURE
FILLING

COLD FILLING
both the product concentrate and the propellant
must be cooled to temperatures of -30to -40
the chilled product concentrate is quantitatively
metered into an equally cold aerosol container
the liquefied gas is added, the heavy vapors of the
cold liquid propellant generally displace the air
present in the container

 When sufficient propellant has been added, the valve

assembly is immediately inserted and crimped into
place
Notice:
because of the low temperatures required, aqueous
systems cannot be filled by this process, since the water
turns to ice.
in the process, some of the propellant vapors are also
lost

PRESSURE FILLING
the product concentrate is quantitatively placed in
the aerosol container
the valve assembly is inserted and crimped into
place
the liquefied gas, under pressure, is metered into
the valve stem from a pressure burette

 Pressure filling is used for most pharmaceutical

aerosols.
It has the advantage over the cold filling
method in that there is less danger of moisture
contamination of the product, and also less
propellant is lost in the process.

 Testing the Filled Containers

The aerosol container is tested under various
environmental conditions for leaks or weakness in
the valve assembly or container.
The valve discharge rate is determined by
discharging a portion of the contents of a previously
weighed aerosol during a given period of time, and
calculating.

Aerosols may be tested:

for their spray patterns
for particle size distribution of the spray: most
5m, must be smaller than 10m.
for accuracy and reproducibility of dosage when
using metered valves.

Section 2: Sprays
Sprays may be defined as aqueous or oleaginous
solutions in the form of coarse droplets or as finely
divided solids to be applied topically, most usually to
the nasal-pharyngeal tract or to the skin.
For example: medicinal atomizers, which are
employed for the issuance of a medicated solution to
the patient in the form of fine droplets

Inhalations are drugs or solutions of drugs

Section 3: Inhalations

administered by the nasal or oral respiratory route.

The drugs may be administered for their local action
on the bronchial tree or for their systemic effects
through absorption from the lungs.

A unique form of powder administration involves the

inhalation of a micronized powder directly into the
lungs using a special breath-activated device

1 Capsule: drug depository

2 Spring stem
3 Fanlike propellant
4 Inhalant
5 Stainless steel spring
section

Glossary
Aerosols; sprays; inhalations;
Pressurized container, valve assembly;
propellant;
Two-phase systems; three-phase systems;
Ingredient; solvent or vehicle ;
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs);
Metered dose inhalers ;
Cold filling ; pressure filling

Problems:
1 What is aerosols, sprays and inhalations?
2 Please briefly describe the influencing factors of
aerosols absorption.
3 Please briefly describe the advantages and
disadvantages of aerosols.
4 Which are the constituents of aerosols?
5 Please briefly describe the quality request of aerosols.
6 What is the function of propellants?