Week 2 Content Flashcards
Molecule
Smallest unit of any chemical compound that possesses the properties of that compound
Particles
An aggregation of drug molecules
Drugs in solid state can be…
Crystalline, amorphous, or both
Crystalline
-molecules packed in a defined order; hard to remove
-will have a distinct melting point and that temperature can break down the crystal lattice
-Worse water solubility
-Slow dissolution rate
-Better stability
Amorphous
-No orderly arrangement of molecules within the solid
-Easy to remove a molecule
-Melt over a range of lower temperatures
-Better water solubility
-Fast dissolution rate
-Worse stability
Polymorphism
The ability of a drug substance to exist as two or more crystalline phases that have different arrangements and/or conformations of the molecules in the crystal lattice; can have different physiochemical properties
Solvates
Orderly arrangements of drug molecules that include solvent molecules in the crystalline lattice
Hygroscopic powders
Take up water from the atmosphere
Deliquescent powders
A type of hygroscopic powder that will absorb moisture from the environment and gradually form a solution
Micronized particles
Particles in the micrometer range
Comminution
The process of reducing particle size
Milling
Used by drug manufacturers to reduce particle size
Trituration
Reducing particle size by the continuous rubbing or grinding of a powder in a mortar and pestle
Levigation
Reducing particle size by adding a small amount of liquid (in which the drug is insoluble) and triturating in a mortar and pestle and spatulating on an ointment slab
Wettability
The extent to which a solid will come into contact with a liquid; ability of the liquid to spread over the solid
