Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Topical drug classification.

Lucinda Buhse1, Richard Kolinski, Benjamin Westenberger

  • 1United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of Pharmaceutical Science, Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis, FDA, 1114 Market Street, Room 1002, St. Louis, MO 63101, USA. buhsel@cder.fda.gov

International Journal of Pharmaceutics
|April 26, 2005
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

<i>In vitro</i> screening of compounds for targeting gastric cancer with Y220C p53 mutation: a molecule combining zinc chelation and a Michael acceptor drives <i>CDKN1</i> and <i>BBC3</i> expression to restore a p53-dependent cytotoxicity.

Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry·2026
Same author

Synthesis of N-Acetyl-D- and -L-Leucine-<sup>13</sup>C<sub>6</sub> Tool Compounds in Neurodegenerative Disease.

ChemMedChem·2026
Same author

Targeting the p53 cancer mutants Y220C, Y220N, and Y220S with the small-molecule stabilizer rezatapopt.

Cell death & disease·2026
Same author

The dihydropyridine LA1011 modulates multiple Hsp90-co-chaperone interactions relevant to Alzheimer's disease.

Cell stress & chaperones·2025
Same author

Removal of Toxic Metabolites-Chelation: Manganese Disorders.

Journal of inherited metabolic disease·2025
Same author

The balance between B55α and Greatwall expression levels predicts sensitivity to Greatwall inhibition in cancer cells.

Nature communications·2025
Same journal

Lipid digestion- driven drug fate as a key determinant of SNEDDS performance: Mechanistic basis of absorption and in vitro- in vivo disconnect.

International journal of pharmaceutics·2026
Same journal

Redox-responsive nanomedicine beyond glutathione: harnessing reactive oxygen species and emerging endogenous triggers for precision drug delivery.

International journal of pharmaceutics·2026
Same journal

Preventing tablet defects through vacuum-assisted deaeration of a powder bed.

International journal of pharmaceutics·2026
Same journal

Approaches for enhancing bioavailability of macromolecular drugs.

International journal of pharmaceutics·2026
Same journal

Characteristics of asymmetric microcrystalline solidification pellets and a better prediction for bioequiavailability based on solubility-permeability theory.

International journal of pharmaceutics·2026
Same journal

A CFPD-FSI analysis of the impact of nasal hairs on airflow patterns, nasal resistance, and particle filtration in a realistic human nasal airway.

International journal of pharmaceutics·2026
See all related articles

This study provides clear, science-based definitions for topical dosage forms like lotions, creams, gels, and ointments. A new classification system and decision tree aid in selecting the correct topical drug formulation.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Physical Pharmacy
  • Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

  • Inconsistent definitions for topical dosage forms (lotions, gels, creams, ointments) cause confusion in prescription and purchasing decisions.
  • Existing classifications lack scientific rigor, necessitating re-examination for clear distinctions based on scientific principles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish a scientifically based, systematic classification for topical drug dosage forms.
  • To develop clear, distinguishable definitions for lotions, gels, creams, and ointments.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluation of marketed topical products using rheology, loss on drying (LOD), specific gravity, surface tension, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), water absorption, dilution, microscopy, light transmittance, appearance, and composition.
  • Rheological properties (viscosity, shear stress/rate) were key discriminators.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Rheology effectively differentiates creams and lotions.
  • Loss on drying (water/volatiles) and composition distinguish ointments from creams.
  • Composition and thermal behavior differentiate gels from other topical forms.

Conclusions:

  • A new classification system and decision tree were developed based on distinct scientific properties.
  • This system aids in accurate nomenclature for topical dosage forms, resolving existing ambiguities.