Low-Substituted Cellulose Ether Coating for Taste Masking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional film-coating technologies using water-soluble polymers fail to effectively mask unpleasant tastes and can result in a sticky or slimy feel upon administration, while water-insoluble coatings may impede drug elution and are not suitable for aqueous applications.

Innovation Solution

A film-coating composition utilizing low-substituted cellulose ether, which is water-insoluble and swells in water, is applied using a shear force to create a stable, water-resistant film that allows for controlled drug elution without organic solvents, thereby masking unpleasant tastes and preventing sticky or slimy sensations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If water-soluble polymer coating is used, then the coating dissolves easily in the oral cavity, but this causes unpleasant taste and sticky or slimy feel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of dissolutionVSAvoidunpleasant taste and sticky feel

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the solubility parameter of the coating material from water-soluble to water-insoluble by using low-substituted cellulose ether (molar substitution 0.05-1.0), which maintains film integrity in the oral cavity while preventing unpleasant taste and sticky sensations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite coating system combining low-substituted cellulose ether as the base material with optional additives (plasticizers, adhesion promoters, pigments) to achieve both taste masking and controlled drug release without sticky feel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If water-insoluble coating material is used to mask taste, then taste masking is improved, but drug elution is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetaste maskingVSAvoiddrug elution and bioavailability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic coating system where the low-substituted cellulose ether film remains stable during storage and in the oral cavity, but undergoes controlled disintegration and drug release in the digestive tract, achieving both taste masking and reliable drug elution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different functional properties to different locations: the coating provides water resistance and taste masking at the oral cavity level, while allowing controlled drug elution at the digestive tract level through the unique swelling and disintegration behavior of low-substituted cellulose ether

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional water-insoluble base material is used, then taste masking is excellent, but the coating is not suitable for aqueous applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetaste maskingVSAvoidsuitability for aqueous coating

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameter of cellulose ether to achieve low substitution (molar substitution 0.05-1.0), which provides water insolubility for taste masking while maintaining compatibility with aqueous coating solutions through controlled swelling behavior

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses low-substituted cellulose ether as an intermediary material that bridges the gap between water-soluble and water-insoluble coatings, allowing aqueous application while providing water-resistant taste masking properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides excellent taste masking and controlled drug release without a sticky or slimy feel, maintaining the bioavailability of the drug and ensuring a smooth ingestion experience.

Implementation Method 1

low-substituted cellulose ether which is water-insoluble and swells in water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSwelling:

Implementation Method 2

A film-coating composition utilizing low-substituted cellulose ether, which is water-insoluble and swells in water, is applied using a shear force to create a stable, water-resistant film

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShear force: Shear Stress

Data Source

PatentUS8795722B2Composition for coating comprising low-substituted cellulose ether and coated preparation having unpleasant taste masked

Publication Date: 2014.08.05 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention is a composition for coating comprising a wet-milled product obtained by suspending low-substituted cellulose ether having a molar substitution of from 0.05 to 1.0 per anhydrous glucose unit in water and then applying a shear force to the aqueous dispersion. The present invention is also a coated preparation prepared using the composition for coating so as to mask an unpleasant taste and to control a sticky or slimy feel by administration.