Sugar Alcohol Particle Composition for Dry-Compressed Tablet Slipperiness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing easy-to-take solid preparations are complicated, require organic solvents, and struggle with forming uniform thick coatings, especially when using gelling agents that are unstable in solvents or prone to aggregation.

Innovation Solution

A particulate composition comprising sugar alcohol and micro-fibrillated cellulose or crystalline cellulose coated with a water-soluble polymer, such as sodium carmellose, xanthan gum, or sodium alginate, which is applied through a dry compression-molding process to create a slippery surface for easy swallowing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional coating methods using gelling agents are used, then the preparation shows slipperiness when contacted with water, but the process becomes complicated requiring multiple steps including freeze-drying, film formation, or spray-coating

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveslipperinessVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines the gelling agent and sugar alcohol into a single integrated particulate composition that can be directly compressed into tablets. This merges the coating function and the structural excipient function into one material system, eliminating the need for separate coating steps and reducing process complexity while maintaining the slipperiness effect when contacted with water

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gelling agent is pre-mixed with sugar alcohol to form coated particles before compression. This preliminary coating action during particle formation eliminates the need for post-compression coating operations, simplifying the overall process while ensuring uniform distribution of the gelling agent on the tablet surface for the desired slipperiness effect

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If spray-coating with gelling agent solution is used, then the coating can be applied, but organic solvents are required and the process becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating applicationVSAvoidorganic solvent use
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the liquid spray-coating process with a dry mechanical compression process. The gelling agent is incorporated as a dry coating on sugar alcohol particles through mixing and granulation, then directly compressed with the drug. This eliminates the need for organic solvents and spray-coating equipment while achieving uniform coating distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state of the gelling agent application from liquid (requiring solvents) to solid particles. The gelling agent is applied as a dry coating on sugar alcohol granules, transforming the coating process from a wet chemical process to a dry mechanical process, thereby eliminating solvent requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If thick coating layer is formed with gelling agent, then better slipperiness is achieved, but uniform coating becomes difficult and process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveslipperinessVSAvoidcoating uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses sugar alcohol particles as local carriers for the gelling agent, with each particle providing a localized coating surface. This local quality approach ensures uniform distribution of the gelling agent throughout the tablet matrix, as each sugar alcohol particle acts as an independent coating unit, preventing aggregation and ensuring consistent slipperiness throughout the preparation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 achieves excellent moldability and slipperiness, allowing for a uniform coating without wet processes, enabling the production of easy-to-take solid preparations with improved swallowability and taste masking.

Implementation Method 1

sugar alcohol and water-soluble polymer as a gelling agent that will show slipperiness when it is brought into contact with water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGel formation: Gel

Implementation Method 2

compression-molding process to create a slippery surface for easy swallowing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3357515B1Particle composition for easy-to-use solid preparation and easy-to-use solid preparation including said particle composition
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 DAICEL CORP
  • EP3357515B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a particulate composition for an easy-to-take solid preparation, which has excellent moldability (hardness) and slipperiness. The present invention relates to a particulate composition for an easy-to-take solid preparation, comprising sugar alcohol and a gelling agent that will show slipperiness when it is brought into contact with water, wherein a part or whole of the surface of the particulate composition is coated with the gelling agent, to an easy-to-take solid preparation comprising the particulate composition, and to a method for the production of the easy-to-take solid preparation.