Formulation science is an interdisciplinary subject where knowledge of material science, and physical chemistry, joins with the art of formulating a formulations that can have hyper activity towards a particular action.[1] Whereas chemistry deals with chemical reactions between various substances, formulation science deals with co-existence of several components in a formulation and the combined and simultaneous activity of individual components. It is basically science of mixtures coexisting without real chemical reactions (breaking and forming of chemical bonds).
It is interactions between ingredient molecules and related physical chemistry and material science of various ingredients that governs this. Thousands of formulation scientists work worldwide in various chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, paint, pesticide, detergent and similar industries to develop successful formulations. Most of the time, the formulations so developed are patented or kept proprietary.[2]
Compared to pharmaceutical science, there are comparatively few universities teach formulation science degrees. Notable qualifications are the Masters course at the School of Science of the University of Greenwich, the BSc Hons course at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and the Bachelor at Monash University.