Micromeritics

The term micromeritics was given to the science and technology of small particles by J. M. DallaValle^{[citation needed]}. It is thus the study of the fundamental and derived properties of individual as well as a collection of particles. The knowledge and control of the size of particles is of importance in pharmacy and materials science. The size, and hence the surface area of a particle, can be related to the physical, chemical and pharmacologic properties of drugs. Clinically, the particle size of a drug can affect its release from dosage forms that are administered orally, parenterally, rectally and topically. The successful formulation of suspensions, emulsions and tablets; both physical stability and pharmacologic response also depends on the particle size achieved in the product.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Origin[]

The term was created by J. M. DallaValle in his book Micromeritics: the technology of fine particles. It was derived from the Greek words for small and part. The size range which he covered in the book was from 10⁻¹ to 10⁵ micrometers. Anything smaller than this but bigger than a molecule was referred to at the time as a colloid but is now often referred to as a nanoparticle. Applications included soil physics, mineral physics, chemical engineering, geology, and hydrology. Characteristics discussed included particle size and shape, packing, electrical, optical, chemical and surface science.

Applications[]

Release and dissolution[]

Particle size and surface area influence the release of a drug from a dosage form that is administered orally, rectally, parenterally, and topically. Higher surface area brings about intimate contact of the drug with the dissolution fluids in vivo and increases the drug solubility and dissolution.

Absorption and drug action[]

Particle size and surface area influence the drug absorption and subsequently the therapeutic action. The higher the dissolution, the faster the absorption and hence the quicker and greater the drug action.

Physical stability[]

Micromeritic properties of a particle, i.e. the particle size in a formulation, influence the physical stability of the suspensions and emulsions. The smaller the size of the particle, the better the physical stability of the dosage form owing to the Brownian motion of the particles in the dispersion.

Dose uniformity[]

Good flow properties of granules and powders are important in the manufacturing of tablets and capsules. The distribution of particles should be uniform in terms of number and weight. Very small particle size causes attraction, which in turn destabilises the suspension by coagulating.

References[]

^ Brittain, H. G. (1995). Physical characterization of pharmaceutical solids. Pharmaceutical Research. 8. New York: M. Dekker. pp. 963–73. doi:10.1023/a:1015888520352. ISBN 0-8247-9372-2. PMID 1924166. S2CID 38179603.
^ Carstensen, Jens Thurø (1993). Pharmaceutical principles of solid dosage forms. Lancaster, Pa: Technomic Pub. p. 211. ISBN 0-87762-955-2.
^ Martin, Alfred N.; Patrick J Sinko (2006). Martin's physical pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences: physical chemical and biopharmaceutical principles in the pharmaceutical sciences. Phila: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. pp. 533–560. ISBN 0-7817-5027-X.
^ Orr, Clyde; Webb, Paul W. (1997). Analytical methods in fine particle technology. Norcross, Ga: Micromeritics Instrument Corp. ISBN 0-9656783-0-X.

[Brittain1995-1] Brittain, H. G. (1995). Physical characterization of pharmaceutical solids. Pharmaceutical Research. 8. New York: M. Dekker. pp. 963–73. doi:10.1023/a:1015888520352. ISBN 0-8247-9372-2. PMID 1924166. S2CID 38179603.

[isbn0-87762-955-2-2] Carstensen, Jens Thurø (1993). Pharmaceutical principles of solid dosage forms. Lancaster, Pa: Technomic Pub. p. 211. ISBN 0-87762-955-2.

[isbn0-7817-5027-X-3] Martin, Alfred N.; Patrick J Sinko (2006). Martin's physical pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences: physical chemical and biopharmaceutical principles in the pharmaceutical sciences. Phila: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. pp. 533–560. ISBN 0-7817-5027-X.

[isbn096567830x-4] Orr, Clyde; Webb, Paul W. (1997). Analytical methods in fine particle technology. Norcross, Ga: Micromeritics Instrument Corp. ISBN 0-9656783-0-X.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

hide v t Branches of chemistry
Glossary of chemical formulae List of biomolecules List of inorganic compounds Periodic table
Analytical	Instrumental chemistry Electroanalytical methods Spectroscopy IR Raman UV-Vis NMR Mass spectrometry EI ICP MALDI Separation process Chromatography GC HPLC Femtochemistry Crystallography Characterization Titration Wet chemistry Calorimetry Elemental analysis
Physical	Electrochemistry Spectroelectrochemistry Photoelectrochemistry Thermochemistry Chemical thermodynamics Surface science Interface and colloid science Micromeritics Cryochemistry Sonochemistry Structural chemistry Chemical physics Chemical kinetics Quantum chemistry Spin chemistry Photochemistry Microwave chemistry Equilibrium chemistry
Inorganic	Coordination chemistry Magnetochemistry Organometallic chemistry Organolanthanide chemistry Bioinorganic chemistry Bioorganometallic chemistry Cluster chemistry Solid-state chemistry Ceramic chemistry Materials science Metallurgy Ceramic engineering Polymer science
Organic	Biochemistry Molecular biology Cell biology Bioorganic chemistry Chemical biology Bioorthogonal chemistry Clinical chemistry Neurochemistry Biophysical chemistry Stereochemistry Alkane stereochemistry Physical organic chemistry Organic reaction Retrosynthetic analysis Enantioselective synthesis Total synthesis / Semisynthesis Medicinal chemistry Pharmacology Fullerene chemistry Polymer chemistry Petrochemistry Dynamic covalent chemistry
Others	Nuclear chemistry Radiochemistry Radiation chemistry Actinide chemistry Cosmochemistry / Astrochemistry / Stellar chemistry Geochemistry Biogeochemistry Photogeochemistry Environmental chemistry Atmospheric chemistry Ocean chemistry Clay chemistry Carbochemistry Food chemistry Carbohydrate chemistry Food physical chemistry Agricultural chemistry Soil chemistry Chemistry education Amateur chemistry General chemistry Clandestine chemistry Forensic chemistry Forensic toxicology Post-mortem chemistry Nanochemistry Supramolecular chemistry Chemical synthesis Green chemistry Click chemistry Combinatorial chemistry Biosynthesis Chemical engineering Computational chemistry Mathematical chemistry Theoretical chemistry
See also	History of chemistry Nobel Prize in Chemistry Timeline of chemistry of element discoveries "The central science" Chemical reaction Catalysis Chemical element Chemical compound Atom Molecule Ion Chemical substance Chemical bond Alchemy Quantum mechanics
Category Commons Portal WikiProject