[PSCI-02] Hard & Soft Gelatin Capsules, Liquid Orals, Suspensions & Emulsions

PSCI-02 • 4. Pharmaceutics

Learning Objectives

Order hard gelatin/HPMC capsule sizes (#000 to #5) by fill capacity and calculate Bloom strength and plasticizer ratios for soft gelatin capsules.; Apply Stokes' Law, DLVO theory, zeta potential, and structured vehicles to formulate flocculated vs deflocculated pharmaceutical suspensions.; Calculate Hydrophile–Lipophile Balance (HLB) values using Griffin's method and diagnose emulsion instabilities (Creaming, Flocculation, Coalescence/Cracking, Phase Inversion).

Chapter Overview & Core Explanation

Capsules enclose drug powders or oils in soluble shells, while suspensions and emulsions disperse insoluble solids or oil droplets uniformly in liquid vehicles so paediatric and geriatric patients can swallow exact doses easily.

Key Exam & Clinical Takeaways

• Capsule size #000 is the largest for human oral use (1.37 mL) and size #5 is the smallest (0.13 mL).
• Coalescence (cracking) of an emulsion is irreversible rupture of the interfacial surfactant film, whereas creaming is reversible upon shaking.

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