Wet Granulation Tabletting with Low-Substituted Hydroxypropyl Cellulose Dispersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for preparing tablets using low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose often result in tablets with inadequate hardness and disintegration properties, particularly when using the wet granulation method, leading to issues like capping, lamination, and sticking, and the tablets may be prone to wear or cracks during shipping due to low strength.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of an aqueous dispersion of low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose with a degree of hydroxypropoxyl group substitution ranging from 5 to 16% is applied in the wet granulation process, allowing for the production of tablets with high hardness and excellent disintegration properties by modifying the granule surfaces with a spray of the cellulose dispersion, thereby enhancing both binding and disintegration properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If water-soluble binder is used in wet granulation to achieve high tablet hardness, then tablet strength is improved, but disintegration property deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetablet hardnessVSAvoiddisintegration property
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the key parameter from using water-soluble binder to using aqueous dispersion of low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (a water-insoluble polymer). This parameter change allows the granule surface to be covered with the polymer, providing binding effect for tablet hardness while maintaining disintegration property because the polymer does not dissolve in water.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The aqueous dispersion of low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose acts as an intermediary substance that bridges the contradiction between binding and disintegration. The dispersion allows uniform coating of the polymer on granule surfaces, achieving both binding effect (through polymer coverage) and disintegration effect (through water absorption and swelling of the insoluble polymer).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose is added to improve disintegration property, then disintegration is enhanced, but tablet hardness becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisintegration propertyVSAvoidtablet hardness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The aqueous dispersion serves as an intermediary that enables low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose to perform dual functions. The dispersion form allows the polymer to uniformly cover granule surfaces, providing binding effect for tablet hardness while the polymer's water-insoluble nature maintains disintegration property.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state of low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose from powder form to aqueous dispersion form. This parameter change enables the polymer to adhere to granule surfaces effectively, providing binding effect while maintaining the polymer's inherent disintegration-promoting properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If tablets are made with high strength to prevent wear and cracks during shipping, then durability is improved, but disintegration property deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetablet strengthVSAvoiddisintegration property
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the binding mechanism from using water-soluble polymers to using water-insoluble low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose in aqueous dispersion form. This provides tablet strength through physical adhesion and friction rather than dissolution, maintaining disintegration property while achieving sufficient strength for shipping durability.

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

This approach enables the creation of tablets with improved disintegratability and strength, suitable for oral administration, which can be easily taken by patients, including the elderly and infants, without requiring special equipment and minimizes the risk of wear or cracks during shipping.

Implementation Method 1

granulating while spraying or adding an aqueous solution of a water-soluble binder such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, or hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose is effective for achieving high tablet hardness

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose having both the disintegration property and the binding property

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3031451B1Wet granulation tableting method using aqueous dispersion of low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP3031451B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3031451B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a method for preparing a tablet having high tablet hardness and an excellent disintegration property even if low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose is added in a relatively small amount. More specifically, provided is a method for preparing a tablet comprising steps of granulating while spraying an aqueous dispersion of low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose having a degree of hydroxypropoxyl group substitution ranging from 5 to 16% by weight to a tablet-forming composition to obtain compression-moldable granules and tableting the granules whose surfaces have been modified with the low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose to obtain the tablet.