RECENT ADVANCES IN SEMISOLID DOSAGE FORM

Pharmaceutical semisolid preparations include ointments, pastes, cream, emulsions, gels, and rigid foams. They serve as carriers for drugs that are topically delivered by way of the skin, cornea, rectal tissue, nasal mucosa, vagina, buccal tissue, urethral membrane, and external ear lining. Semisolids can adhere to the application surface for sufficiently long periods before they are washed off. This property helps prolong drug delivery at the application site. Novel semisolids are non-greasy since they are made up of washable water bases. Hence they cause less irritation to skin and are superior to the conventional semisolid dosage form. Now a day, novel creams are available in the market provided with nanoparticles and microspheres. Similarly, novel gels are available, including microemulsion gel, bioadhesive gel, organogel, thermosensitive sol-gel, pH-responsive complexation gel, etc. Oleaginous ointments are preferred for dry, chapped skin in an environment of low humidity because of its occlusive properties. A semisolid is evaluated by the following parameters such as spreadability, extrudability, viscosity measurement of pH, drug content, rheological properties, etc. This article reviews the recent advances of semisolids as well as its evaluation.