* Pacific Academy for Higher Education and Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, Udaipur, India.
Table 1
Methoxy (%) Hydroxypropyl (%)
Substitution Type
Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum
1828 16.5 20.0 23.0 32.0
2208 19.0 24.0 4.0 12.0
2906 27.0 30.0 4.0 7.5
2910 28.0 30.0 7.0 12.0
Chemistry
Hypremellose have the polymeric backbone of cellulose, a natural carbohydrate that contains
a basic repeating structure of anhydroglucose units (See figure below). During the
manufacture of cellulose ethers, cellulose fibers are heated with a caustic solution which in
turn is treated with propylene oxide, yielding hydroxypropyl substitution on the
anhydroglucose units of methyl ether of cellulose. The fibrous reaction product is purified
and ground to a fine, uniform powder.
Properties
General properties common to the Hypremellose are listed below. Individual type exhibits
these properties to varying degrees and may have additional properties that are desirable for
specific applications.
4) Approximate values for specific gravity are given for some concentration below
a. 1% solution: 1.0012
b.5% solution: 1.0117
c. 10% soluton: 1.0245
5) Surface tension: Surface tensions range from 42 to 56 mN/m. The surface tension of water
is 72 mN/m; a typical surfactant has a surface tension of 30 mN/m.
6) Dissolubility: dissolve in water and some solvent. Such as, the suitable proportion of
ethanol/ water, propanol /water. Its aqueous solution provides surface activity and high
transparence and stable properties. Various products have different gel temperatures.
Solubility changes with viscosity. Lower the viscosity is, higher the solubility is. Different
types of Hypremellose have different properties. Its dissolution is not subject to pH.
7) With the reduction of methoxy content, gel point rises, solubility in water and surface
activity decrease.
2) Product without surface treatment can swell and disperse in hot water with temperature
higher than 85ºC. Usually it is dissolved by the following methods. Take about 1/5~1/3 of the
needed hot water and agitate so that the added product will swell completely. Then add in the
remained water, which can be hot or cold, agitate to the appropriate temperature and the
product can dissolve completely. As to dissolve HPMC by hot water method, it is very
important to cool the mixture down. To dissolve the product completely and form ideal
transparent solution, the temperature is dependant upon the type of HPMC.
3) Dispersing by dry mixing, i.e., the product can be mixed with other powder substance
homogeneously first, and then tap water is added in, so that the product will dissolve quickly
without any gel.
4) Wetting with organic solvent. Disperse the product in organic solvent first or wet the
product by organic solvent and then add the mixture into hot water or add in hot water, which
could also dissolve the product efficiently. The organic solvent could be ethanol or ethandiol
[3].
GRAS status
Based on the information provided by Dow, as well as other information available to FDA,
the agency has no questions at this time regarding Dow's conclusion that HPMC-ESP is
GRAS under the intended conditions of use. The agency has not, however, made its own
determination regarding the GRAS status of the subject use of this ingredient. As always, it is
the continuing responsibility of Dow to ensure that food ingredients that the firm markets are
safe, and are otherwise in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
In accordance with proposed 21 CFR 170.36(f), a copy of the text of this letter responding to
GRN 000213, as well as a copy of the information in this notice that conforms to the
information in the proposed GRAS exemption claim (proposed 21 CFR 170.36(c)(1)), is
available for public review and copying on the homepage of the Office of Food Additive
Safety. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/foodadd.html
Hypromelose is also included in the inactive ingredient database. Following table depict
some of the approved drug product in which it is used as a inactive ingredient with its route
of administration and maximum potency. [4-5] The table mainly summarizes the use of
Hypromelose as release retarding inactive ingredient. For other applications, information is
provided on the link below.
1. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/iig/getiigWEB.cfm
2. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/InformationOnDrugs/ucm075230.htm)
3. http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/HowDrugsareDevelo
pedandApproved/ApprovalApplications/AbbreviatedNewDrugApplicationAND
Table 5:
Maximum
Inactive Ingredient Route;Dosage form UNII
Potency
ORAL; CAPSULE, SUSTAINED ACTION Z78RG6M2N2 336MG
ORAL; CAPSULE, SUSTAINED ACTION, HARD
Z78RG6M2N2 2.771MG
GELATIN
ORAL; TABLET Z78RG6M2N2 86MG
ORAL; TABLET, CONTROLLED RELEASE Z78RG6M2N2 7.8MG
HYPROMELLOSE
ORAL; TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE Z78RG6M2N2 320MG
2208 (15000 MPA.S)
ORAL; TABLET, SUSTAINED ACTION Z78RG6M2N2 480MG
ORAL; TABLET, SUSTAINED ACTION,
Z78RG6M2N2 94MG
COATED
ORAL; TABLET, SUSTAINED ACTION, FILM
Z78RG6M2N2 200MG
COATED
HYPROMELLOSE
ORAL; TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE 2F7T07H9ZD 175MG
2208 (60000 MPA.S)
HYPROMELLOSE
2208 (80000-120000 ORAL; TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE VM7F0B23ZI 54MG
CPS)
ORAL; CAPSULE, DELAYED ACTION 288VBX44JC 33.42MG
ORAL; CAPSULE, ENTERIC COATED PELLETS 288VBX44JC 13.82MG
ORAL; CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE 288VBX44JC 10.6MG
ORAL; CAPSULE, SUSTAINED ACTION 288VBX44JC 10.88MG
ORAL; CAPSULE, SUSTAINED ACTION, HARD
288VBX44JC 4.772MG
GELATIN
ORAL; TABLET, CONTROLLED RELEASE 288VBX44JC 20MG
ORAL; TABLET, DELAYED ACTION 288VBX44JC 4.47MG
ORAL; TABLET, DELAYED ACTION, ENTERIC
288VBX44JC 19MG
HYPROMELLOSE COATED
2910 (15000 MPA.S) ORAL; TABLET, ENTERIC COATED
288VBX44JC 445MG
PARTICLES
ORAL; TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE 288VBX44JC 150MG
ORAL; TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING,
288VBX44JC 7MG
DELAYED RELEASE
ORAL; TABLET, SUSTAINED ACTION 288VBX44JC 250MG
ORAL; TABLET, SUSTAINED ACTION,
288VBX44JC 6MG
COATED
ORAL; TABLET, SUSTAINED ACTION, FILM
288VBX44JC 54MG
COATED
HYPROMELLOSE
ORAL; CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE 27MG
2910 (4000 MPA.S)
HYPROMELLOSE
ORAL; CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE 54MG
2910 (50 MPA.S)
HYPROMELLOSE
ORAL; TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE 0WZ8WG20P6 92.794MG
2910 (6 MPA.S)
Application
Hypromellose is a water-soluble polymer derived from cellulose, the most abundant polymer
in nature. It is used as thickener, binder, film former, and water-retention agent.
Hypromellose is also function as suspension aids, surfactants, lubricants, protective colloids
and emulsifiers. In addition, solutions of HPMC, thermally gel, a unique property that plays a
key role in a surprising variety of applications. Such a kind of valuable combination of
properties is not available in any other water-soluble polymer.
Hydrophilic Matrices
The principle of drug release from hydrophilic polymers is due to hydration and swelling
(Figure 1) During the initial formation of the gel layer a preliminary burst of drug release is
typical. The extent of the burst is dependent on the solubility of the drug substance and how
rapidly the polymer can hydrate to form the gel layer, which is influenced by the polymer
chemistry and particle size. Reducing the particle size of the polymer reduces the burst
release and eventually slows down the rate of release (this is because the hydration rate of the
gel increases and gel layer forms more rapidly). Once the gel layer has formed, it controls
the release rate of the drug substance, principally by diffusion control for high solubility
drugs, erosion control for low solubility drugs or by a combination of diffusion and erosion.
The polymer viscosity controls the rate of erosion.
Initial Tablet
The most commonly used polymers for hydrophilic matrices are Hydroxypropyl methyl
cellulose (Hypromellose or HPMC). Hydrophilic matrices based on HPMC are the most
common and have the widest application across a range of drug substance properties. When
formulating with HPMC, consideration needs to be given to the following factors, which
affect the dissolution profile
HPMC content
HPMC to drug ratio
HPMC viscosity
Drug solubility
HPMC substitution
HPMC particle size
Drug particle size
Diluent particle size
Diluent solubility
The above factors should be incorporated into a DOE to fully understand their effect in
controlling the dissolution rate of each compound. Detailed information regarding the use of
HPMC for controlled release of drugs in hydrophilic. Within each substitution type and
viscosity, additional sub grades maybe available e.g. CR (tighter control on polymer particle
size) low humidity and low substitution, and these should be selected with care. [6]
It is possible to combine different polymer chemistry and viscosities to further control the
release profile. However, caution is recommended as this may result in a combination of
release mechanisms which may be difficult to interpret in-vitro or in-vivo.
Examples of suitable HPMC grades for modified release formulation development are listed
in Table 6
Release Mechanism
The overall drug release mechanism from HPMC based pharmaceutical devices strongly
depends on the design (composition and geometry) of the particular delivery system. Drug
molecules are released at the surface, as well as diffusing into the inner swelling polymer (a
dissolution process) and then diffusing outwards through the swelling polymer and finally
through the outer gel layers.
Erosion front
Swelling front
Diffusion front
The three distinct moving fronts are indicated. At all times the dissolved drug profile extends
from the diffusion to the erosion front and the water profile from the swelling to the erosion
front (i.e. the entire gel layer).
At the beginning of the process, steep water concentration gradients are formed at the
polymer/ water interface resulting in water imbibition into the matrix. Water acts as a
plasticizer and reduces the glass transition temperature of the system; the polymer chains
undergo the transition from the glassy to the rubbery state. Due to the imbibition of water
HPMC swells, resulting in dramatic changes of polymer and drug concentrations, and
increasing dimensions of the system.
Upon contact with water the drug dissolves and (due to concentration gradients) diffuses out
of the device. With increasing water content the diffusion coefficient of the drug increases
substantially.
In the case of poor water-solubility, dissolved and non-dissolved drug coexist within the
polymer matrix. Non-dissolved drug is not available for diffusion. In the case of high initial
drug loadings, the inner structure of the matrix changes significantly during drug release,
becoming more porous and less restrictive for diffusion upon drug depletion.
Depending on the chain length and degree of substitution of the HPMC type used, the
polymer itself dissolves more or less rapidly.
Active drug is released in the gastrointestinal tract via contributions from different release
mechanisms. Initially surface erosion of the tablet face occurs and water imbibes into the
polymer matrix. Slow direct erosions of the polymer matrix and erosion, after transient
swelling, at the surface with the formation of a gel layer occur. Diffusion release of the drug
from the polymeric matrix results, through the swelling gel layer, with concomitant ongoing
polymer surface erosion. At the end of the drug release, the matrix is completely dissolved,
suggesting that the overall drug release time is controlled by the tablet erosion. [8-11]
First order
log(Qt) = log(Q0) + K1t /2.303………(2)
where Qt is the amount of drug dissolved in time t, Q0 is the initial amount of drug in the
solution and K1 is the first order release rate constant.
Higuchi model
Qt = KH√t ………………………….(3)
KH is the Higuchi‟s release constant
Hixson-Crowell
Q01/3 - Qt1/3 = KHCt ………………….(4)
where Q0 is the initial amount of drug in the pharmaceutical dosage form, Qt is the remaining
amount of drug in the pharmaceutical dosage form at time „t‟ and KHC is a constant
incorporating the surface–volume relation.
KorsemeyerPeppas
Korsmeyer et al (1983) derived a simple relationship which described drug release from a
polymeric system Eq. (5). To find out the mechanism of drug release, first 60% drug release
data was fitted in Korsmeyer–Peppas model:
Mt/M∞ = KKPtn…………………………(5)
Where Mt / M∞ is fraction of drug released at time t, KKP is the rate constant and n is the
release exponent. The n value is used to characterize different release mechanisms as given in
table 7 [7]
Table 7
Exponent (n)
Drug release mechanism
Thin Film Cylinder Sphere
0.5 0.45 0.43 Fickian diffusion
0.5 <n<1.0 0.45<n<0.89 0.43<n<0.85 Anomalous transport
1.0 0.89 0.85 Case-II transport
Patent status
Hypromellose is a choice of polymer used as release controlling polymer in extended release
matrix system. Due to its various properties as mentioned, various pharmaceutical companies
used it in variety of dosage form to prolong the release of drug to extend the life span of the
various drugs. The current patents approved in various countries for
hydroxypropylmethylcellulose in extended release matrix system are about 12000. The
following table illustrates the importance of this polymer. [12]
2500
2000
1500
Publication Year
Number of Patent
1000
500
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Publication Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Number of Patent 496 591 705 907 1045 1010 1166 1142 916 994 697
CONCLUSIONS
Effort to exemplify this polymer over the last four decades has multiplied, yet many
challenges remain unanswered. To date, many diverse techniques have been used to study the
mechanism of drug release from hypromellose matrices. As expertise evolves, there will be
further methods that can characterize hypromellose in a non-invasive manner. Hypromellose
is growing ever more popular as the controlled release polymer of choice.
REFERENCES
1. Dow Commercial Information (2002) Using methocel cellulose ethers for controlled
release of drugs in hydrophilic matrix systems. The Dow Chemical Company, USA, pp
1–36
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semisynthesis