Quats as Excipients and Active Ingredients for Pharmaceuticals
Quaternary ammonium compounds
(Quats) such as
Benzalkonium
Chloride (BKC) and
Cetrimide are used for
their antimicrobial properties, both as
preservatives (excipients) or as
active ingredients in various pharmaceutical
products for humans or animals (veterinary use).
They are present as excipients in products such as eye drops/solutions, nasal
drops/sprays, creams, ointments, etc. As active pharmaceutical ingredients
(APIs),
Benzalkonium Chloride (BKC)
and Cetrimide and
Strong
Cetrimide can be found in antiseptic and disinfecting creams, gels and
lotions for disinfection of skin and small wounds; in creams, lotions and oils
against eczema; in birth control / spermicidal gels, creams, ovules and
mousses; in suppositories; in sore throat lozenges; in dental care gels,
solutions and impregnated cloths and many more. For these purposes the purity
of FeF Chemicals' quats is of great importance.
FeF Chemicals' pharmaceutical grades -
Benzalkonium Chloride (BKC), Ph.Eur., USP/NF and JP (viscous liquid and
solution), Myristalkonium Chloride (MKC) Pharma, as well as Cetrimide, Ph.Eur. and
Strong Cetrimide Solution 40% BP - are all
produced under cGMP and are ideal for pharmaceutical applications. FeF
Chemicals can also offer letters of access to Certificates of Suitability
(COS/CEP) for the Ph.Eur. grades as well as Drug Master Files (DMF) for
selected products.
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Quats as surfactants in Pharmaceutical Suspensions
Surfactants such as Quaternary ammonium compounds (Quats) are substances that, because of their molecular structure, prefer to arrange themselves in the boundary layer (interface) between two immiscible (re. cannot be blended) phases, such as water and air, water and oil, or water and a suspension particle.
In a pharmaceutical suspension a surfactant serves two purposes:
- to increase the wettability of the drug substance
- to prevent particles from aggregating.
So an adequate surfactant is essential for obtaining a stable, homogenous and injectable suspension. Benzalkonium Chloride (BKC) can be used as a surfactant in pharmaceutical suspensions.
You can read more in the following article:
- Improving the stability of a suspension
Article from Pharmaceutical Technology Europe, February 2006
