Pharmaceutical Emulsions and Suspensions, Volume 105

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education,  Winter 2000  by Eley, John

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FRANCOISE NIELLOUD AND GILBERTE MARTIMESTRES. Pharmaceutical Emulsions and Suspensions, Volume 105. New York NY Marcel Dekker, Inc., 2000. xi + 637pp., 225 figs., 80 tbls., $ 195.00.

This multi-authored book gives a comprehensive coverage of pharmaceutical emulsions and suspensions. It fills a long standing gap in the pharmaceutical literature by being devoted to the explanation of emulsion and suspension systems. Modern Pharmaceutics by Banker & Rhodes, volume 40 and companion in the Drugs and Pharmaceutical Sciences series gives only one chapter on the subject under the heading of Disperse Systems. The Theory and Practice of Industrial Pharmacy by Lachman, Lieberman and Kanig give two chapters to the topic which are reasonably comprehensive. However, there is not enough space given in either book, to go into depth on any issue, and this is where the volume under discussion does justice to the subject. Probably, the classic reference, Surfactant Systems by Attwood and Florence, up until the present gave the most revealing and comprehensive coverage of emulsions and suspensions, naturally concentrating on the influence of surfactants.

Part one of this volume under review, Basic Concepts, begins with theoretical considerations of surfactant systems, formulation concepts and emulsion properties. No volume would be complete without an extensive explanation of surfactants, which part one does well starting at basic descriptions and leading in chapter two to formulation concepts. A general feature of the book is that as each section progresses it becomes more advanced in subject matter. Such is the case with chapter three, which covers emulsion properties such as conductivity and type, emulsion stability and composition mapping. Chapter four brings the reader up to date, with suspension formulation from a physicochemical viewpoint taking into account thermodynamics at the interface, surface free energy, the zeta potential and stability of suspensions.

Part two covers Health Applications where emulsions are covered in such applications as topical, transdermal, ophthalmic and gastrointestinal drug delivery systems. Both emulsions and suspensions are discussed as general delivery systems in separate chapters. There is an extremely well devised chapter on parenteral fat emulsions and an enlightening chapter devoted to nanosuspensions for the formulation of poorly soluble drugs. This chapter stands alone and opens new perspectives concerning the problem. A chapter on the fairly recent techniques of dry adsorbed emulsions is most interesting and fits well within the framework describing the analysis of emulsions and suspensions regarding routes of administration.

The last part of the book, Tools and Methods for Experiments and Measurements, encompasses a variety of preparative methods and experimental designs offering an insight into the formulation of emulsions and suspensions. The theoretical aspects of experimental design offered in chapters fourteen and fifteen are extensive and could be helpful by increasing efficiency in getting it right first time.

Rheology and particle size distributions are the last two topics necessarily covering essential aspects of dispersed systems stability. Here, any reader will be on familiar territory amongst non-Newtonian fluids, mean particle diameter and polydispersity.

The references given at the end of each chapter are numerous and are invaluable for further reading of the subject. There are adequate diagrams to help reveal the text and tables to display data in an uncomplicated manner. Photographs are of reasonable resolution and the whole layout of the book is more pleasing and open than earlier volumes in the series.

Overall, the book provides an excellent and comprehensive overview of the subject and would be a valuable addition to the pharmaceutics' library. It will be of particular value to researchers wishing for practical suggestions and guidance in the field.

John Eley Auburn University

Copyright American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Winter 2000
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