Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am going to conduct a study that uses paper disc diffusion method in validating antifungal activity.
Part of my method is to record the antifungal activity of the drug Sporanox (generic name: Itraconazole). I am planning to get the powder inside the capsule. problem is, I don't know where i can dissolve the powder into. so that i could have an itraconazole solution in which i could soak my paper discs there. the preferable concentration is 8micrograms per milliliter. How do I get this solution, will i just dilute the powder in distilled water and soak the paper discs in? or is there a much more precise and reliable way? help me please. I'm hoping for your answers thanks!

It should be OK to dissolve the powder in distilled water to obtain a solution (is this a drug humans take?).

It may be difficult to get a proper concentration without a precise balance, but here's what you can do: See how many micrograms are in each capsule. Then, weigh the powder from the capsule (depending on what sort of balance you have, you may need to weigh the powder from many capsules). That should allow you to calculate how much powder has 8 micrograms of medicine in it (there will almost certainly be much more powder than medicine, because most medicines have additional 'filler' ingredients in them). From that, you can calculate how much powder you should put in how much water, depending on how much solution you need.

Make sense?

That is an excellent idea! I suggest that you verify the solubility of your drug. This information is usually in the product sheet of the drug.