APPLICATIONS OF SURFACTANTS IN PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT OF CONVENTIONAL AND ADVANCED DELIVERY SYSTEMS

The role of surfactants is very critical in the development of pharmaceutical formulations. The diverse applications in different delivery systems have been highlighted in different reports of formulation development for various conventional and advanced delivery systems. The relevancy of critical micelle concentration and HLB value for the section of surfactants for different drug delivery systems was rationalized with suitable examples. The present attempt is focused on the compilation of all the important aspects of surfactants with a broad discussion on the drug delivery implications. The regulatory status of different investigational surfactants has been criticized relevantly with a compilation of FDA approved surfactants. The safety aspects of newly developed surfactants must be ensured before their incorporation in therapeutic dosage forms. The properties of different categories of surfactants were discussed with special emphasis on their physicochemical properties. The compiled information will make a firm base for the selection of surfactants for conventional and advanced drug delivery systems. Precise information on surfactant toxicity was also included to give a check to the safe concentrations of these surface active agents in pharmaceutical formulation meant for administration through different routes of administration. The various pharmaceutical applications of surfactants were also discussed in detail.