In the pharmaceutical industry, hypromellose (HPMC, METHOCEL?) can be used as filler, binder, tablet coating polymer and key excipient to control drug release. Hypromellose has been used in tablets for more than 60 years and is a key excipient widely used in hydrophilic gel matrix tablets.

Many pharmaceutical companies use hypromellose for controlled drug release, especially in hydrophilic gel matrix tablet formulations. When it comes to hypromellose products, you might be wondering how to make a choice – especially if you’re looking for something label-friendly and sustainable to market to your customers. In this guide, we’ll talk about the key things you need to know about hypromellose.

What is hypromellose?

Hypromellose, also known as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), is a polymer used as a pharmaceutical excipient to control the release of drugs from oral hydrophilic gel matrix tablets.

Hypromellose is a semi-synthetic material derived from cellulose, the most abundant polymer in nature. Some of its common properties include:

.?soluble in cold water

. insoluble in hot water

. Nonionic

. Selectively soluble in organic solvents

. Reversibility, thermal gel properties

. Hydration and viscosity independent of pH

. Surfactant

. non-toxic

. Taste and smell are mild

. Enzyme resistance

. pH (2-13) range stability

. It can be used as thickener, emulsifier, binder, rate regulator, film former

What is Hydrophilic Gel Matrix Tablet?

Hydrophilic gel matrix tablet is a dosage form that can control the drug release from the tablet over a long period of time.

Hydrophilic gel matrix tablet preparation:

.?relatively simple

. Requires only standard tablet compression equipment

. Prevent drug dose dumping

. Not affected by tablet hardness or compression force

. Drug release can be adjusted according to a amount of excipients and polymers

The use of hypromellose in hydrophilic gel-matrix tablets has received extensive regulatory approval, and hypromellose is convenient to use and has a good safety record, which has been demonstrated by numerous studies. Hypromellose has become the best choice for pharmaceutical companies to develop and produce sustained-release tablets.

Factors Affecting Drug Release from Matrix Tablets:

When designing an extended-release tablet, there are two main factors to consider: formulation and processing. There are also sub-factors to consider when determining the formulation and release profile of the final drug product.

Formula:

Key factors to consider for early development:

1. Polymer (substitution type, viscosity, amount and particle size)

2. Drugs (particle size and solubility)

3. Bulking agents (solubility and dosage)

4. Other excipients (stabilizers and buffers)

Craft:

These factors are related to how the drug is manufactured:

1. Production methods

2. Tablet Size and Shape

3. Tablet force

4. pH environment

5. Film coating

How skeleton chips work:

Hydrophilic gel matrix tablets can control the release of drugs through the gel layer, including two mechanisms of diffusion (soluble active ingredients) and erosion (insoluble active ingredients), so the viscosity of the polymer has a great influence on the release profile. Using hypromellose, pharmaceutical companies can use hydrophilic gel matrix tablet technology to adjust the release profile of the drug, providing more effective dosage and better patient compliance, thereby reducing the burden of medication on patients. The way of taking medicine once a day is of course better than the experience of taking multiple tablets several times a day.