This document discusses different types of topical medications including creams, ointments, gels, and pastes. It provides details on the composition, manufacturing, and applications of each type. Ointments can be made from oleaginous, absorption, water-removable, or water-soluble bases. Creams exist as oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions. Gels are semisolids made up of a liquid suspended in a gelling agent network. Pastes are thick ointments that remain stiff at body temperature and act as protective coatings.

1. Topical medications
Creams, Ointments, Pastes And Gels
Presented by:
Faryal Alam

2. Introduction To Topical Medications
Topical preparations:
1. Preparations applied to the skin either for their
physical effects or for the specific effect of a
medicinal agent.
2. They maybe applied to skin, placed on surface of
eye, or used nasally, vaginally or rectally.
3. They can be medicated or non medicated.
4. Used as Protectants, lubricants, emollients,
drying agents, astringents.

3. Topical medications include
1. Ointment
2. Cream
3. Gels
4. pastes

4. ointment
• Semi-solid dosage forms
• Applied to skin or mucous membrane
• Medicated or non medicated
• Un-medicated are used for physical
effects such as emollient, protectant,
lubricants.

5. Ointment bases
• Oleaginous Bases
• Absorption Bases
• Water-Removable Bases
• Water-Soluble Bases

6. Oleaginous bases
• Water insoluble
• Not water washable
• Can’t absorb water
• Oily, occlusive, lack cosmetic appeal
Examples:
1. Hydrocarbons (mineral oils, petrolatums,
paraffins, waxes)
2. Animal fats/vegetable oils (castor oil, cottonseed
oil, olive oil)
3. Synthetic esters (glyceryl monostearate, butyl
stearate, isopropyl lanolate, stearyl alcohol)
4. WHITE PETROLATUM
5. WHITE OINTMENT

7. absorption bases
•Water insoluble
•Not water washable
•Can absorb water
•Anhydrous
•Oily, occlusive, lacks cosmetic appeal
Examples:
1. Hydrophilic petrolatum
2. Bees wax
3. lanolin

8. water-removable bases
• Water Washable
• Can Absorb Water
• External Phase Contains Water
Examples:
•Hydrophilic Ointment

9. water-soluble bases
• Water soluble
• Water washable
• Can absorb water
• Anhydrous or hydrous
• All water soluble, no oil phase
Example:
•Polyethylene Glycol Ointment
•Biozyme Ointment, Desenex Ointment

10. selection of ointment bases
Depends upon
• Release rate
• Topical or percutaneous drug absorption
• Occlusion
• Stability of drug
• Effect of drug on ointment base
• Easily removable
• Characteristics of surface for application

11. preparation of ointment
•Ointment Slab/Pill Tile
•Mortar/Pestle
•Ointment Mill
•Fusion
 Heat highest melting point material first
 Water phase a few degrees higher
 W/O: add water slowly
 O/W: add oil slowly
• Incorporation
 Mortar and pestle or spatula is used
 Materials are rubbed on a slab
 Material of spatula is stainless steel or rubber
 Ointment is prepared by thoroughly rubbing solid
material in base

12. packaging
• Jars: Glass, Plastic
 Do not pour in while hot!
• Disp. Jars: Plastic
• Tubes: Plastic, tin, aluminum
• Syringes: Individually dosed, good
protection of the product

13. creams

14. creams
•Opaque, soft solids, or thick liquids intended for
external application
•Can be of two types
o/w
w/o

15. manufacturing area
1. Wax melting device
2. Water heating device
3. Manufacturing vessel
4. Storage vessels
5. Automated panel

16. manufacturing of creams
Wax
melting
vessel
Water heating
vessel
Mfg
vessel
Silverson mixer
Water and steam jacketed Paddle mixer
Wax, water, antioxidants,
emulsifying agents,
preservatives
60-80 ͦC
SS316
Muslin cloth
SS3
16
Temp gauge

17. gels

18. gels
•Semisolid systems consisting of
dispersions of small or large molecules in
an aqueous liquid vehicle rendered jelly-like
through the addition of a gelling
agent.

19. Types of gels
•Single Phase
• Gels in which the macromolecules are
uniformly distributed throughout a
liquid with no apparent boundaries
between the dispersed macromolecules
and the liquid
• Usually involve organics
•Two Phase
• When the gel mass consists of floccules
of small distinct particles
• Usually involve inorganics

20. gels
Composition of gels
• Gelling agent
• Water
• Cosolvents
• Preservatives
• Stabilizers
Kinds of Gels
1. Hydrogels
• Silica, bentonite, pectin, sodium alginate,
methylcellulose, alumina
2. Organic Gels
• Contain an organic liquid (e.g., Plastibase)
3. Carbomer Gels
• Aqueous dispersion neutralized with sodium hydroxide
or triethanolamine
4. Methylcellulose Gels
5. Starch Glycerite
6. Aluminum Hydroxide Gel

21. Phenomena Associated with Gels
•Syneresis
phenomenon associated with gels
- When the interaction between particles of the dispersed phase becomes so great that on
standing, the dispersing medium is squeezed out in droplets and the gel shrinks
•Swelling
-The taking up of liquid by a gel with an increase in volume
•Imbibition
- The taking up of a certain amount of liquid without a measurable increase in volume
•Thixotropy
-A reversible gel-sol formation with no change in volume or temperature
•Jelene/Plastibase
- A combination of mineral oils and heavy hydrocarbon waxes with a MW of about 1300
•Carbomer 934
- A polymer of acrylic acid cross-linked with a polyfunctional agent; recognized as an
official emulsifying and suspending agent

22. applications and gelling agents
Applications of gels
•Oral
•Topical
•Intranasal
•Vaginal
•Rectal
Gelling agents
1. Carbomer
2. Cmc
3. Tragacanth
4. Gelatin
5. Aerosil

23. gelling agents
Carbomers:
1. Acrylic based
2. Sustain release in stomach
3. Thickening agent
4. Used in conc of 0.5-1%
Carboxy methyl cellulose:
1. Used in conc of 4-6%
2. Viscosity enhancer
3. Insoluble in water but salts are
soluble in water such as sodium CMC
Tragacanth
• Soaked overnight
• Used with glycerine and propylene
glycol as wetting agent
Gelatin
• Obtained from bone collagen
• Bio-compatible
• cosmotological
• Contains human serum albumin
Ehtyl cellulose
• 5% conc
Aerosil
• Inorganic
• No microbial growth

24. Stability
•Physical Stability
- Shrinkage
- Separation of liquid from the gel
- Discoloration
•Microbial Stability
•BUD: Unless otherwise documented, 14 days
when stored in a refrigerator (USP)
Packaging/Storage/Labeling
•Tight containers
•Room or refrigerated temperatures, as
appropriate
•Prior to use, store in tight containers.

25. pastes
• Thick, stiff ointments that do not ordinarily flow
at body temperature.
• Serve as protective coatings over the areas to
which they are applied.
• Usually >20% solids
• Medicated (zinc oxide)
• Un-medicated (toothpaste)
• Bulking agent  calcium carbonate, starch.