The effect of surface active agents on the rate of disintegration of various antibiotic tablets

The effect of surface active agents on the disintegration time of various antibiotic tablets has been studied. Disintegration tests were conducted on five different antibiotic tablets, Pen Vee K, Potassium Penicillin G., Neomycin Sulfate, Griseofulvin, and Erythromycin Stearate, using four different types of surface active agents, polysorbate 80, sorbitan monolaurate, benzalkonium chloride, and triethanolamine oleate. It appears that the disintegration time of neomycin sulfate (a salt of a strong acid and a weak base) tablets can be decreased by nonionic surface active agents of low HLB value (sorbitan monolaurate) and by anionic surface active agents (triethanolamine oleate) while the disintegration times of Pen Vee K and potassium penicillin G; (both salts of a weak acid and a strong base) tablets can be decreased by nonionic surface active agents of high HLB value (polysorbate 80) and by cationic surface active agents (benzalkonium chloride). The disintegration time of griseofulvin (not a salt) tablets may be slightly reduced by polysorbate 80. None of the surface active agents studied appears to have a noticeable effect on the disintegration of erythromycin stearate (a salt of a weak acid and a weak base) tablets.