Chapter 7

Aerosols, Sprays and Inhalations

 Section1:
Ⅰ 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.
Ⅱ 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 A portion of medication maybe easily withdrawn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 5μm, must be smaller than 10μm.

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.
Ⅲ 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 water-

immiscible liquid propellant, a layer of highly
aqueous product concentrate, and the vapor phase.

Emulsion or
suspension
 Ⅳ 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
 Among the chlorofluorocarbons used as propellants
in pharmaceuticals are

dichlorodifluoromethane,

dichlorotetrafluoroethane,

trichloromonofluoromethane.
Example 1:What is the
How to determine a vapor pressure
vapor of a 60:40
pressure of a
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 Raoult’s law, we need to determine the number

of moles of each propellants:

60
n propane   1.36
44.1
40
n isobu tan e   0.69
58.1
From Raoult’s law, the partial pressure exerted by
the propane is:

n propane 
Ppropane   P propane
n propane  n isobu tan e
1.36
  110  72.98 psi
1.36  0.69
The partial pressure exerted by the isobutane is:

n isobu tan e 
Pisobu 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, PT, is:
Dalton’s
PT=72.98+10.23=83.21psi at 70℉
law

 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.
Ⅴ 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
Ⅵ 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 button that the
the link between the user presses to activate
hold the
supports valve
the in
actuator
dip tube and the stem theprevent leakage of
valve assembly for
theplace
and delivers
mechanism
and theby which
actuator thethe formulation
emission of the
formulation
the actuator in the
retracts when the valve is in
product
proper form to isthe
when pressure released, the closed position.
chamberreturning
thereby of the actuator
the
valve to the
bring the closed
formulation
position
from the container to
the valve
Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs)
Ⅶ Filling
Operations
COLD FILLING

PRESSURE FILLING
 COLD FILLING
 both the product concentrate and the propellant
must be cooled to temperatures of -30℉to -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.
Ⅷ 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

5μm, must be smaller than 10μm.

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
Section
Inhalations3:
areInhalations
drugs or solutions of drugs
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?