Acta Pharm. 66 (2016) 1-12

full paper

Review

Microscopic methods in analysis of submicron phospholipid dispersions

MARCIN PLACZEK and MAGDALENA KOSELA

mpl@gumed.edu.pl

Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland

Accepted September 21, 2015

Microscopy belongs to the group of tests, used in pharmaceutical technology, that despite the lapse of time and the development of new analytical methods, still remain irreplaceable for the characterization of dispersed drug dosage forms (e.g. suspensions and emulsions). To obtain complete description of a specific drug formulation, such as parenteral colloidal products, a combination of different microscopic techniques sometimes is required. Electron microscopy methods are the most useful; however, even such basic methods as optical microscopy may be helpful for determination of some properties of a sample. The publication explicates the most popular microscopical techniques used nowadays for characterization of the morphology of nanoparticles suspended in pharmaceutical formulations; advantages and disadvantages of these methods are also discussed. Parenteral submicron formulations containing lecithin or a particular phospholipid were chosen as examples.

Keywords: optical microscopy, electron microscopy, AFM, phospholipid dispersions, parenteral drug delivery systems