Interfacial adsorption of polymers and surfactants: Implications for the properties of disperse systems of pharmaceutical interest

This review considers basic aspects of the interfacial adsorption of polyme rs and surfactants, with particular reference to the relevance of these pro cesses for the formulation of pharmaceutical disperse systems. First, we di scuss different approaches to the interpretation of adsorption isotherms, p aying particular attention to sytems containing more than one adsorbate. Se cond we consider the implications of adsorption for the properties of suspe nsions, emulsions, and colloidal systems, particularly as regards the use o f polymers and surfactants for stabilizing disperse systems, for controllin g flocculation, and for modifying the biopharmaceutical behavior of colloid al drug carriers. Finally, we present a number of representative examples o f the importance of adsorption of macromolecules in pharmaceutical systems.