METHOCEL™ Premium grades have long been used by the pharmaceutical industry. There are two basic premium types, methylcellulose (MC) and hypromellose, which meet the standards set by the USP, JP and Ph. Eur.
Both types of METHOCEL™ have the polymeric backbone of cellulose, a natural carbohydrate that is based on a repeating structure of anhydrous units.
METHOCEL™ Premium MC polymers are available under the A chemistry designation in several different viscosity ranges for use as suspending agents in liquid systems.
Applications
Tablet Binder
METHOCEL™ in the form of E5LV and E15LV may be employed as binders in the wet granulation of tablet products at a level of 3-5% of finished tablet weight. METHOCEL™ produces strong granules of uniform size.
METHOCEL™ E15LV produces stronger granules to those made with E5. Care should be taken in formulation since disintegration and dissolution times may be adversely affected with the production of harder
Thickener and Suspending Agent
METHOCEL™ is useful in many cream, ointment, suspension formulations, including ophthalmic preparations as a viscosity modifier. E4M and K4M Premium grades are most frequently used.
METHOCEL™ E types are used in systems requiring high clarity, and where ease of filtration is an important parameter.
Tablet Sealing
METHOCEL™ is readily soluble in gastric juices and water, thus providing good bioavailability. Being insoluble in sucrose syrup, it is also useful for sealing tablet cores prior to sugar coating.
Product overview for the METHOCEL™ line of premium cellulose ethers
METHOCEL™ is a trademark of Dow Wolff Cellulosics
