Pharmacy Courses

Difference Between Dissolution and Disintegration


Disintegration and dissolution are critical factors for pharmaceutical product development. They play important role on drug release in human body. There are few differences between disintegration and dissolution as mentioned below - 


Dissolution vs Disintegration

  • Disintegration is a process of breaking down a substance into tiny fragments or granules to improve its solubility in under specified conditions.
  • Dissolution is a process through which a solute dissolve in a solvent under specified conditions.

  • DT (disintegration time)  measures the break down time of a dosage form into small granules or particles.
  •  Dissolution measures the amount of drug release or dissolve in the media.


  • Disintegration is a subset of dissolution.
  • Dissolution is the result of disintegration.


  • Usually disintegration influence by disintegrants and binder only.
  • Where dissolution influence by particle size, disintegrants, polymorphic form, dissolution enhancer and dissolution media etc.

  • Disintegration time is comparatively easy to control.
  • Dissolution is critical to control.

  • Rate of drug dissolution is greatly influenced by disintegration of dosage form.
  • Disintegration is not influenced by dissolution.

  • Disintegration specification varies from dosage form to dosage form.
  • Dissolution rate varies from product to product.

  • For dissolution and disintegration, refer to USP general chapter <701> and <2040> where there is more information.
  • Also, refer to your individual BP/EP or USP monographs.



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