Chewable Gel Composition Using High(Methyl)Pectin for Swallowability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Patients, especially the elderly and children, face difficulties in swallowing large tablets due to solubility and compressibility issues, and often require liquid to facilitate swallowing, leading to poor compliance with treatment.

Innovation Solution

A chewable composition comprising high(methyl)pectin, glycerol, and water, with optional surfactants, sugar substitutes, flavoring agents, and active substances, which gels rapidly at a controlled pH, allowing for easy ingestion without liquids and forming a solid that is both chewable and graspable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tablets are made with certain drug substances, then the dosage form is stable and effective, but the tablets become too large for patients to swallow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedosage form stabilityVSAvoidswallowability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the dosage form by using high(methyl)pectin as a gelling agent that forms a gel structure at controlled pH (2.8-3.2). This transforms the traditional solid tablet into a chewable gelatinous composition that can be easily swallowed while maintaining drug stability and effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material system combining high(methyl)pectin, glycerol, water, and optional surfactants to form a chewable gel composition. This composite structure provides both the stability needed for drug containment and the soft, manageable texture that improves swallowability for elderly and children patients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If tablets are made large to contain sufficient drug substance, then the dosage strength is adequate, but patients require liquid to facilitate swallowing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedosage strengthVSAvoidingestion convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state and texture parameters by formulating a gelatinous composition that is soft and chewable. This allows the dosage form to contain adequate drug substance while requiring no liquid for ingestion, as patients can simply chew and swallow the soft composition directly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Shape

If traditional gelling agents are used, then the composition can be formed, but heating above 90°C is required causing degradation of drug substances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomposition formabilityVSAvoiddrug substance stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the thermal and gelling parameters by using high(methyl)pectin with controlled degree of esterification (65-75%). This specific pectin variant forms gels rapidly at temperatures below 90°C at controlled pH, eliminating the need for high-heat processing that would degrade sensitive drug substances while still achieving proper composition formability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If sucrose is used in the composition, then the taste is improved, but the composition becomes caloric and cariogenic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetaste acceptabilityVSAvoidcariogenicity and caloric content

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the compositional parameters by replacing sucrose with sugar substitutes in the chewable gel formulation. This maintains pleasant taste and patient acceptability while eliminating the harmful effects of calories and tooth decay risk, making the medication suitable for frequent use in elderly and children patients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 composition is sugar-free, easy to swallow, and can be ingested without liquid, improving treatment compliance by providing a convenient, sugar-free, and easily manageable dosage form that is suitable for all patients, including the elderly and children.

Implementation Method 1

high(methyl)pectin allows one to obtain a composition, which, once formed, can be grasped. Additionally, with high(methyl)pectin, the gelling of the composition is easily controlled, occurs rapidly, i.e. in less than 2 hours

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGelling: Gel

Data Source

PatentEP2956011B1Chewable composition for oral administration and process for preparing thereof

Publication Date: 2018.03.28 SANOFI SA(FR)

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AI summary

The present invention relates to chewable compositions for oral administration, said compositions comprising high(methyl)pectin, glycerol and water. Advantageously, the chewable composition can comprise a drug substance. The present invention also concerns a process for preparing the chewable composition and the use of said chewable composition as a medicament.