Low Viscosity Hydroxyalkyl Cellulose Binder for Tablet Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods using hydroxypropyl cellulose as a binder for core particles with a particle size of 100 µm or less fail to completely inhibit aggregation and ensure efficient drug layering, often resulting in prolonged disintegration times and reduced tablet hardness.

Innovation Solution

A hydroxyalkyl cellulose with a viscosity of 1.10 mPa·s to 1.95 mPa·s in a 2%-concentration aqueous solution at 20°C is used as a binder, reducing aggregation and enhancing drug layering efficiency while maintaining sufficient tablet strength and disintegration properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hydroxypropyl cellulose with viscosity of 2.0-2.9 mPa·s is used as a binder, then aggregation of core particles is suppressed to some extent, but drug layering efficiency is not sufficiently increased and disintegration time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaggregation suppressionVSAvoiddisintegration time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the viscosity parameter of hydroxypropyl cellulose from the conventional range of 2.0-2.9 mPa·s to a lower range of 1.10-1.95 mPa·s. This parameter change enables the binder to effectively suppress aggregation of core particles with 100 μm or less diameter while simultaneously improving drug layering efficiency and reducing disintegration time, thus resolving the technical contradiction between aggregation suppression and disintegration time reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If coating agent with weak binding force is used to inhibit aggregation, then aggregation is reduced, but binding force between core particles and drug particles is weakened and drug particles are easily detached

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaggregation inhibitionVSAvoidbinding force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the viscosity parameter of the binder to a specific low range of 1.10-1.95 mPa·s, which optimizes the balance between binding force and aggregation inhibition. This parameter change allows the coating agent to provide sufficient binding force to prevent particle detachment while simultaneously inhibiting aggregation of core particles, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If amount of binder is reduced to shorten disintegration time, then disintegration time is reduced, but tablet hardness is reduced and rapid disintegration properties cannot be obtained with high degree of hardness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisintegration timeVSAvoidtablet hardness
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the viscosity parameter of hydroxypropyl cellulose to 1.10-1.95 mPa·s, which enables effective aggregation suppression and drug layering at lower binder concentrations. This parameter change allows formulation of tablets with both high hardness and rapid disintegration properties, resolving the contradiction between tablet hardness and disintegration time without requiring increased binder amounts.

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 hydroxyalkyl cellulose effectively prevents core particle aggregation, ensures nearly complete drug coverage, and produces tablets with improved hardness and disintegration times.

Implementation Method 1

the core particles having a particle size of 100 μm or less are extremely easily aggregated due to binding of interparticle bridges that are formed by a coating agent containing the binder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2647648B1Solid dosage form containing a low viscosity HYDROXYALKYL CELLULOSE
Publication Date: 2017.08.09 NIPPON SODA CO LTD
  • EP2647648B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2647648B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The present invention provides a hydroxyalkyl cellulose having a viscosity of 1.10 mPa·s to 1.95 mPa·s in a 2%-concentration aqueous solution at 20°C, and a solid formulation containing the hydroxyalkyl cellulose.