The measurement of particle size is vital to ensuring product bioavailability, efficacy, and shelf life since particle size influences surface area and porosity. A therapeutic's particle size directly influences its absorption behavior, bioavailability, content uniformity, dissolution, and flowability.
What is an example of particle size?
Plastics and polymers invariably benefit from particle size analysis. Polystyrene, for example, has particle sizes ranging from 20 nanometers to 1000 microns. In most plastic manufacturing processes, the starting material is a pellet or powder.
Why is the size of the particles important?
The particle size can affect the rate a substance will dissolve. Smaller particles have a smaller surface area, therefore making dissolution occur more quickly. The pharmaceutical industry uses this information when designing drugs, as drugs with a smaller surface area will be metabolized more quickly.
What does particle size tell you?
The particle size of a spherical object can be unambiguously and quantitatively defined by its diameter. Area-based particle size equals the diameter of the sphere that has the same surface area as a given particle. Typically used in optical granulometry techniques.