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Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Handbook: Production and

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SELECTION OF PHARMACEUTICAL EXCIPIENTS 893<br />

TABLE 6 Commonly Used Polymers for Film Coating of Core Tablet<br />

Polymer<br />

Comments<br />

Methylcellulose (MC) Soluble in cold water, GI fl uids, <strong>and</strong> a range of organic<br />

solvents<br />

Ethylcellulose (EC) Soluble in organic solvents, insoluble in water <strong>and</strong> GI<br />

fl uids; used alone in modifi ed - release formulations<br />

<strong>and</strong> in combination with water - soluble cellulose for<br />

immediate - release formulations<br />

Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) Soluble in water <strong>and</strong> GI fl uids<br />

Methyl hydroxyethylcellulose Soluble in water <strong>and</strong> GI fl uids; has similar fi lm - forming<br />

(MHEC)<br />

properties to HPMC but is less soluble in organic<br />

solvents, which limited its popularity when solvent<br />

coating was the norm<br />

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) Soluble in cold water, GI fl uids, <strong>and</strong> polar solvents;<br />

becomes tacky when dried, so is unsuitable for use<br />

alone, often used in combination with other polymers<br />

to optimize adhesion of coat<br />

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose Soluble in cold water, GI fl uids, alcohols, <strong>and</strong><br />

(HPMC)<br />

halogenated hydrocarbons; excellent fi lm former <strong>and</strong><br />

the most widely used polymer; can be used with<br />

lactose to improve adhesiveness<br />

Sodium carboxymethylcellulose Soluble in water <strong>and</strong> polar solvents<br />

(NaCMC)<br />

2. Solubility in GI fl uids: The solubility of polymers is dependent on its physicochemical<br />

nature <strong>and</strong> pH. Unless the coating is being applied for enteric coating,<br />

it should ideally be soluble across the range of pH values encountered in the<br />

GI tract.<br />

3. Capacity to produce an elegant fi lm even in the presence of additives such as<br />

plasticizers, pigments, <strong>and</strong> colorants.<br />

4. Compatibility with fi lm - coating additives <strong>and</strong> the tablet being coated.<br />

5. Stability in the environment under normal storage conditions.<br />

6. Freedom from undesirable taste or odor.<br />

7. Lack of toxicity.<br />

Enteric coating materials are also used to prevent release of the drug substance<br />

in the stomach if the drug is either an irritant to the gastric mucosa or unstable in<br />

gastric juice. Table 7 lists enteric coating polymers commonly used in tablet formulations.<br />

The choice of of enteric coating material depends on its solubility.<br />

The third type of tablet coating is multiple - compression coating to make a bilayered,<br />

multilayered tablet (a layered tablet of two drugs) or a tablet within a tablet<br />

(a core of one drug <strong>and</strong> a shell of another). The multilayered tablet is prepared by<br />

initial compaction of a portion of the fi ll materials in a die followed by additional<br />

fi ll material <strong>and</strong> compression, depending on the number of fi ll materials. The layered<br />

tablet can provide some advantages. Each layer has different drug in a separate<br />

layer. The incompatible drug can be compressed simultaneously at different layers.

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