When ailing from minor pains like skin rash or headache, or major pains like cancer, medicine can feel like the shining light of relief. These treatments we rely so deeply on, along with most other pharmaceutical products, are made by the process of homogenization, specifically with high pressure homogenizers. The process alters the size of droplets and imparts intensive mixing along with mechanical force to create a single homogenous mixture. Here we analyze the critical role for high pressure homogenizers in the synthesis of the pharmaceutical products we hold so dear.
Improved API Delivery
The active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) contained within pharmaceutical products must be treated sensitively, as they can be damaged by changes in factors like heat and pH. Under such circumstances API bioavailability can drop significantly, so mixing processes that use heat should be avoided. However, high pressure homogenizers use force as opposed to heat, which preserves the API and increases its bioavailability in vivo.
Increased Digestibility
Homogenizers are renowned for their ability to decrease particle size; specifically, high pressure homogenizers are more effective than most other models. These smaller droplets are easier for the digestive system to process, which also promotes effective API delivery (see above). (1)
Lengthened Shelf Life
Chemical stability is key to lengthening (or shortening) a pharmaceutical product’s shelf life. An emulsion is a mixture of two immiscible liquids, and comprises a wide array of medications and treatments. To promote stability and prevent separation of phases, a potential product can be put through the intensive mixing of high pressure homogenization; as compared with other methods, this will significantly increase its shelf life. (2)
Smooth & Agglomerate-Free Mixture
Liquid pharmaceuticals like syrups require specific treatment to ensure consistency; this usually consists of at least one thickening agent. Yet such agents also carry the risk of agglomeration, an undesirable trait in any medication. While conventional mixtures aren’t typically fit to disperse clumps, the combination of intense force and mechanical pressure of a high pressure homogenizer allows it to overcome this problem.
Pion: The Homogenizer Advantage
Are you in need of equipment to support synthesis of a pharmaceutical product? Pion's BEE brand technology is trusted by pharmaceutical researchers and lab managers around the world. We deliver an array of key benefits, such as production of nano/micro emulsions and dispersions and lipids and suspensions; these can be used for applications such as injectables, targeted drug delivery, inhalants, time release, anesthetics, and importantly, vaccinations.
In addition, we have extensive experience in the challenges that our pharmaceutical customers face as they transition from concept, through to R&D, clinical trials, all-important FDA approval and finally, to manufacturing.
Learn more by contacting us.
