About two-thirds of all medications are dispensed as oral solid dosage forms (OSDFs), and half of these OSDFs are tablets. While they look simple and elegant, tablets are complex formulations of active pharmaceutical ingredient(s), binders, fillers, flow aids and lubricants. Tablets may also contain a rate-modifying polymer, such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, or a solubilizing agent, such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate. Tablets may also be coated with a soluble low-viscosity film-forming polymer, like hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, or a rate-modifying film-forming polymer, such as ethylcellulose.

Enabling Technologies

METHOCEL™ water-soluble cellulose ethers are versatile excipients broadly used in tablet coatings, as binders in wet granulation or as matrix formers in controlled release hydrophilic matrices. Tailored METHOCEL™ grades providing productivity improvements are available, such as METHOCEL™ VLV for binders and coating or METHOCEL™ DC2 for direct compression.

ETHOCEL™ Premium ethylcellulose resins offer versatility in drug release rates and produce hard tablets with low friability. ETHOCEL™ is often used for solvent granulation of water-sensitive materials. It prevents immediate dissolution upon ingestion, which masks the taste of drugs.

POLYOX™ resins represent a viable alternative for use in matrices and osmotic systems. POLYOX™ is also a successful candidate in discouraging abuse.

AFFINISOL™ polymers are tailored to improve the solubility of APIs in solid dispersions, whether formulated via spray-dried dispersion or hot-melt extrusion.

AMBERLITE™ and DUOLITE™ ion exchange resins control the release of APIs and can be used in combination with other excipients to provide targeted drug release profiles.

Low-viscosity WALOCEL™ C grades offer highly transparent solutions, which makes these grades ideal for tablet coatings.