PHAR 305 (PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY II)

COLLOIDS

Asst. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Sohail

FACULTY OF PHARMACY
CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
 Disperse Systems
• The term “Disperse system” refers to a system in which one substance (dispersed
phase) is distributed, in discrete units, throughout a second substance/phase called
(continuous phase). Or

• Dispersed systems consist of at least two phases, the substance that is dispersed
known as the dispersed (or) internal phase, and a continuous (or) external phase.

• Dispersion system include following preparation used in pharmaceutical products.

Types of Disperse Systems

• Based on the particle size of the dispersed phase, dispersions are generally
classified as molecular dispersions, colloidal dispersions, and coarse dispersions.

• Molecular dispersions

• Colloidal dispersions

• Coarse dispersions
Types of Disperse Systems
Molecular dispersions (true solutions) have dispersed particles lower
than 1.0 nm in size. Colloidal dispersions have particle sizes between 1
nm and 1mm. Microemulsions, nanoparticles, microspheres are some
of the examples of colloidal dispersions. Coarse dispersions have a
particle size greater than 1nm, which includes suspensions and
emulsions.
Properties of Disperse Systems
 COLLOIDS
A colloid is a substance microscopically dispersed throughout another substance.
The word colloid comes from a Greek word 'kolla', which means glue thus colloidal
particles are glue like substances.

A dispersed system consists essentially of one component, the disperse phase

dispersed as particles or droplet throughout another component, the continuous
phase.

Those dispersions in which the size of the disperse particles is within 10-9 (1 nm) to
above 10-6(1 um) are often termed colloidal systems.

The colloidal system consist of two phases: A dispersed phase (discontinuous phase )
and a dispersion medium (continuous phase)
Proteins and gums also form lyophilic colloidal systems because of a similar affinity
between the dispersed particles and the continuous phase. On the other hand,
dispersions of oil droplets in water or water droplets in oil are examples of lyophobic
dispersions.
These particles can pass through a filter paper but not through a semi-permeable
membrane.
Colloids can be made to settle by the process of centrifugation. Examples of natural
colloids include fog, mist, smoke.
Colloidal particles are normally invisible in an optical microscope, though their
presence can be confirmed with the use of an ultra-microscope or an electron
microscope.
 CLASSIFICATION OF COLLOIDS

Colloids can be classified based on:

• Based on the physical state of dispersed phase and the dispersion medium
• Based of nature of interaction between dispersed phase and dispersion medium.
• Based on molecular size in the dispersed phase.
• Based on appearance of colloids.
• Based on electric charge on dispersion phase.
BASED ON NATURE OF INTERACTION BETWEEN DISPERSED
PHASE AND DISPERSION MEDIUM
LYOPHILIC COLLOIDS:
These are colloidal solutions in which the dispersed phase has a great affinity for
the dispersion medium. They are also known as intrinsic colloids. Such substances
have tendency to pass into colloidal solution when brought in contact with
dispersion medium.
If the dispersion medium is water, they are called hydrophilic colloids.
The lyophilic colloids are generally self- stabilized. They are reversible in nature and
are heavily hydrated.
Example of lyophilic colloids are starch, gelatin, rubber, protein etc.
Lyophilic
Colloids
 LYOPHOBIC COLLOIDS
These are colloidal solutions in which the dispersed phase has no affinity to the
dispersion medium. These are also referred as extrinsic colloids.
Such substances have no tendency to pass into colloidal solution when brought in
contact with dispersion medium. The lyophobic colloids are relatively unstable.
They are irreversible by nature and are stabilized by adding small amount of
electrolyte. They are poorly hydrated.
If the dispersion medium is water, the lyophobic colloids are called hydrophobic
colloids.
Examples: sols of metals like gold (Au), silver (Ag), sols of metal hyroxides and metal
sulphides.
Based on molecular size in the dispersed phase

MULTIMOLECULAR COLLOIDS

• Individual particles of the dispersed phase consists of aggregates of atoms or

small molecules having diameter less than 7-10 cm . The particles are held by
weak Van der waal’s forces. Example s are gold and sulphur sols.

MACROMOLECULAR COLLOIDS

• The particles of dispersed phase are sufficiently large in size enough to be of

colloidal solution. These are called natural polymers.
 ASSOCIATION COLLOIDS
These colloids behave as normal electrolytes at low concentrations but behave as
colloids at higher concentrations.
These associated colloids are also referred to as micelles.
Sodium stearate (C18H35NaO2) behave as electrolyte in dilute solution but colloid in
higher concentrations.
Examples: Soaps, higher alkyl sulphonates, polythene oxide.
ASSOCIATION
COLLOIDS
BASED ON ELECTRICAL CHARGE ON DISPERSION PHASE

• POSITIVE COLLOIDS: When dispersed phase in a colloidal solution carries a

positive charge. Examples: Metal hyroxides like Fe(OH)3, Al(OH)2, methylene blue
sol etc.

• NEGATIVE COLLOIDS: When dispersed phase in a colloidal solution carries a

negative charge. Examples : Ag sol, Cu sol
Shapes of
Colloids
 SEPARATION OF COLLOIDS

Separation of colloids can be done with the use of the following

techniques:
Mechanical Dispersion
Electrical dispersion or Bredig’s Arc Method
Peptization
Condensation Method
Applications of Colloids in Pharmacy
• Increased therapeutics properties when formulated in the colloidal
state.
• E.g., colloidal silver chloride, colloidal silver iodide are effective
germicidal and do not cause irritation
• Colloidal Gold and Colloidal copper are used in the diagnosis and
treatment of cancer
• Colloidal mercury is used for syphilis
• Colloidal Sulphur is better absorbed then coarse Sulphur
• Colloids are more soluble and more stable
Applications of Colloids in Pharmacy…
• Proteins are natural colloids found in various parts of the body like
skin, muscles and bones.
• Naturally occurring plant molecules used as excipients are colloids in
nature e.g., starch and cellulose.
• Hydroxyethyl starch is used as plasma substitute
• Surface active agents and association colloids are used to increase the
stability of the formulations
• Synthetic polymers used in formulations are colloids
• Novel drug delivery systems are usually colloids
 Purification of colloids
There are three common methods used for purification of colloids:
• Dialysis
• Electrodialysis
• Ultra filtration

• Dialysis: The process of separating the particles of colloid from those

of crystalloid, by means of diffusion through a suitable membrane. It’s
principle is that colloidal particles can not pass through a cellophane
membrane while the ions of the electrolyte can pass through it.
• The impurities slowly diffused out of the bag leaving behind pure
colloidal solution. The distilled water is changed frequently to avoid
accumulation of the crystalloids otherwise they may start diffusing
back into the bag.

• Electro dialysis: The process of dialysis is very slow. The process can
be made faster by application of electrical potential. This is called
electrodialysis.

• Application of electro dialysis: Artificial kidney machine make use of

electro dialysis.
• Ultra filtration: This is a process of high pressure filtration through a
semi permeable membrane in which colloidal particles are retained
while the small sized solutes and the solvent are forced to move
across the membrane by hydrostatic pressure forces.
• Application of ultra filtration: It is a vital process that takes place in
the kidneys.
 PROPERTIES OF COLLOIDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF COLLOIDS
• Heterogeneity: Colloidal solutions consist of two phases-dispersed
phase and dispersion medium.

• Visibility of dispersed particles: The dispersed particles present in

them are not visible to the naked eye and they appear homogenous.

• Filterability: The colloidal particles pass through an ordinary filter

paper. However, they can be retained by animal membranes,
cellophane membrane and ultrafilters.
Stability: Lyophilic sols in general and lyophobic sols in the absence of
substantial concentrations of electrolytes are quite stable.
• Colour: The colour of a colloidal solution depends upon the size of
colloidal particles present in it. Larger particles absorb the light of
longer wavelength and therefore transmit light of shorter wavelength.
 OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF COLLOIDS
TYNDALL EFFECT
• When an intense converging beam of light is passed through a
colloidal solution kept in dark, the path of the beam gets illuminated
with a bluish light.
• This phenomenon is called Tyndall effect and the illuminated path is
known as Tyndall cone.
• The Tyndall effect is due to the scattering of light by colloidal
particles.
Tyndall effect is not exhibited by true solutions. This is because the
particles present in a true solution are too small to scatter light.

• Tyndall effect can be used to distinguish a colloidal solution from a

true solution. The phenomenon has also been used to devise an
instrument known as ultra microscope. The instrument is used for the
detection of the particles of colloidal dimensions.
 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COLLOIDS
BROWNIAN MOVEMENT
• The continuous zigzag movement of the colloidal particles in the
dispersion medium in a colloidal solution is called Brownian movement.

• Brownian movement is due to the unequal bombardments of the

moving molecules of dispersion medium on colloidal particles.

• The Brownian movement decreases with an increase in the size of

colloidal particle. This is why suspensions do not exhibit this type of
movement.
 ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF COLLOIDS
• ELECTROPHORESIS: The movement of colloidal particles towards a
particular electrode under the influence of an electric field.
• If the colloidal particles carry positive charge, they move towards
cathode when subjected to an electric field and vice versa.
 ELECTROSMOSIS
• The movement of dispersion medium under the influence of an
electric field in the situation when the movement of colloidal particles
is prevented with the help of a suitable membrane.

• During electrosmosis, colloidal particles are checked and it is the

dispersion medium that moves towards the oppositely charged
electrode.
COAGULATION OR FLOCCULATION
• Coagulation may be defined as the phenomenon involving the
precipitation of a colloidal solution on addition of an electrolyte.
 ADVANTAGES OF COLLOIDS
• Colloids allow the dispersion of normally insoluble materials, such as
metallic gold or fats. These can then be used more easily, or absorbed
more easily.
• Colloidal gold, for example, can be used in medicine to carry drugs
and antibiotics, because it is highly non-reactive and non-toxic.
• Pharmaceutical industry makes use of colloidal solutions in the
preparation of many drugs. A wide variety of medicines are
emulsions. An example is Cod liver oil.
• Paint industry also uses colloids in the preparation of paints.
• In milk, the colloidal suspension of the fats prevents the milk from
being thick, and allows for easy absorption of the nutrients.

• The sky is the empty space around earth and as such has no colour. It
appears blue due to the scattering of light by the colloidal dust
particles present in air (Tyndall effect).

• Asphalt emulsified in water and is used for building roads.

• Soap solution is colloidal in nature. It removes the dirt particles either
by adsorption or by emulsifying the greasy matter sticking to the
cloth.

• Large numbers of food particles which we use in our daily life are
colloidal in nature. Example: Milk, butter and ice cream.
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