A PROCESS FOR COATING A TABLET COMPOSITION

Abstract: Tablets are coated with a solution obtained by dissolving in cold water granules obtained by comminuting an extruded mixture of plasticizer and thermally moldable polymer and, optionally, a pigment and/or surfactant. Preferably, the plasticizer is propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol or water and the polymer is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose or hydroxethyl cellulose.

Description: This invention concerns a process for coating a tablet composition with a plasticizer and a thermally moldable polymer. It is highly desirable to provide a polymer film coating composition that is cold water dispersible. Those wishing to formulate pharmaceutical tablet coatings must either purchase each of the individual components and make their own formulation, or purchase a relatively dispersible coating composition which includes all or most of the ingredients in the tablet formulation. Putting a coating formulation together necessitates multiple weighings of ingredients and their blending. Preparation of the coating requires dispersing the polymer into hot water with sufficient time required for cooling and hydration, or dispersing the polymer into room temperature water while under high shear conditions. In this latter method, additional time is required for the foam from shearing to subside. Otherwise, the polymer agglomerates, resulting in a dispersion which is not uniform and is therefore undesirable. A dispersible powder coating disclosed in, Porter et al., U.S. Patent 4,543,370, comprises hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, plasticizer, surfactant and optional pigments. When these ingredients are premixed dry and then added to room temperature water, due to the presence of the surfactant, the mixture's viscosity decreases. The formulated coating mixture disperses in water at room temperature and is usable about an hour after mixing. A quantitative measurement of dispersibility in water can be generated by measuring the amount of agitation required to completely disperse the powders into water. The measure of agitation required for dispersion can be rated on a scale of 0 to 10, 0 being minimal and 10 being violent agitation (see examples for test standards). Also, hydration time can be measured by a Brabender amylograph. Hydration is the time to achieve 90 percent of ultimate viscosity at a standard agitation level. By measuring dispersibility and hydration, a dry powder mixture in room temperature water which has hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, plasticizer and surfactant disperses at an agitation level of about 7 with a hydration time of 20 minutes. When pigments are added as taught in Porter et al, U.S. Patent 4,543,370, allowing for better dispersibility, the agitation level drops to about 5 with a hydration time of less than 20 minutes. It is known in the art to use dry powder mixtures in room temperature water as taught in U.S. Patent 4,543,370, but these powder mixtures only have acceptable dispersion and hydration time in room temperature water. Surprisingly, the present invention provides a cold water dispersible coating composition that is granular, with improved dispersibility and hydration time. More particularly, the present invention concerns a process for coating an oral dosage form, especially a tablet, with a plasticizer and thermally moldable polymer, which comprises: (a) extruding a composition, having a thermally moldable polymer and a plasticizer, at a temperature of at least 70°C to form an extruded material; (b) comminuting the resulting extruded material to form a granulated product; (c) mixing the granular product in cold water wherein the granular product disperses and hydrates quickly to form a concentrated solution; and (d) spraying the concentrated solution onto an oral unit dosage form, especially a tablet, bed in a conventional coating apparatus, wherein an edible coated oral unit dosage is formed. A preferred embodiment includes solidifying the extruded matter after step (a) above by cooling the resulting matter to facilitate comminuting. Generally, the granulated product can be added to cold water and is used in coating operations. The granular thermoplastic composition may be used to coat pharmaceuticals, foods and food supplements to protect, color, harden, make foods more palatable, or mask the taste of solid dosage forms. The granular composition of the present invention dissolves more quickly in cold water than the dry powder blends of the prior art. Therefore, the composition is easier and less costly to use. Also, because of the granular characteristics, the flow of the composition is benefited and the hazards of dust explosions associated with powder compositions are reduced. By "thermally moldable polymer" is meant that the polymer, when in a plasticizer, will mold or flow upon application of heat. The temperatures at which such polymers mold or flow may be modified by adding more polymer, or less plasticiser, either of which would decrease said temperatures. Preferably, the polymer is pharmaceutically acceptable. The thermally moldable polymers that are preferred include, for example, hydroxypropyl methyl-cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, or hydroxyethyl cellulose. At elevated temperatures and under high shear extrusion, the polymer dissolves in the plasticizer to form a thermoplastic composition. Some suitable plasticizers include propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol or water. The plasticizer is preferably pharmaceutically acceptable. By conventional means, the plasticizer and thermally moldable polymer are mixed to form a homogeneous blend. This can be done at the inlet of an extruder or in an external mixing device. Preferably, the blend is premixed and is slowly added to the extruder that has been heated by steam or other conventional means of heating. Other means of heating the blend could include preheating the blend before extrusion, heating the individual components of the blend before mixing or using the heat generated during manipulation of the polymer in the extruder to heat the material. The material in the extruder is heated to or maintained at a temperature of at least 70°C, preferably in the range from 70 to 150°C, especially 90 to 110°C. The optimum temperature for extrusion will vary somewhat dependent upon the polymer, plasticizer and other factors, but the optimum temperature can readily be determined empirically. The temperature of the polymer may vary depending upon where it is in the extruder, but generally a uniform temperature profile is preferred. The temperature referred to herein is the polymer temperature in the extruder just before it passes through the die. High temperatures which can cause decomposition should be avoided. The heated blend forms a thermoplastic composition, thus allowing extrusion of the composition. The extruded material is a firm material appearing uniform in texture and color. Dependent upon the type of extruder used, the extruded material might be recycled until the strands are firm and uniform in texture. The thermoplastic composition is extruded through a die, preferably a multiholed die, of any shape, size or design that is operable. After the extruded material is of the desired texture, it is air cooled to harden and reduce stickiness. Although cooling improves the ease of subsequent milling, the extruded material is hard enough at extrusion temperatures to chop and mill without air cooling. The strands are chopped by conventional means or in some embodiments may be sufficiently brittle so they will break on their own into short lengths forming pellets or flakes. The pellets are ground in a mill to approximately 20 to 140 U.S Sieve Series mesh (0.8-0.1 mm) granules, although another means of achieving these granules is to use a die face cutter. It is also possible to minimize the degree of grinding by using a die that gives very thin extrusions such as about 0.012 inch (0.03 cm) thick sheets or about 0.04 inch (0.1 cm) diameter strands. Pigments and surfactants may be added to the granules, or could be added to the blend before extrusion. Pigment dispersions typically used in pharmaceutical formulations, such as aluminum-lake pigments, or colorants, such as dyes, could be added to the blend. Surfactants, such as dioctylsodium sulfosuccinates or sodium lauryl sulphate, may optionally be added before or after the extrusion or milling to reduce surface tension of water in contact with the granules and increase wetting of the particles. Typically, the thermoplastic composition to be extruded is from 50 to 95 weight percent cellulose ether polymer, and from 5 to 50 weight percent plasticizer. The addition of pigments and surfactants are optional. Typically, the composition comprises from 0 to 0.3 weight percent surfactant. A pigment to polymer ratio from 0:1 to 3:1 by weight is operable. The addition of pigments may alter the typical composition and will provide better dispersibility. Preferably, with the addition of surfactants and pigments, the composition comprises from 60 to 90 weight percent cellulose ester polymer and pigment; from 10 to 40 weight percent plasticizer; from 0 to 0.3 weight percent of surfactant; and from 0 to 1/1 pigment to polymer ratio by weight. As previously discussed, a quantitative measurement of dispersion and hydration time can be made. The thermoplastic granular composition is very dispersible in water. The granular composition in preferred embodiments has a dispersion of 2 to 3 with a hydration time of 1 to 5 minutes. The thermoplastic granular composition can be added to cold water under agitation to form a concentration solution. The solution can be used in a coating operation, spraying the solution directly onto a tablet bed in a conventional coater. The composition may be used to coat pharmaceuticals, foods, food supplements to protect, color, harden, make more palatable, and mask the taste of solid dosage forms. Because the moldable polymer and plasticizer form an extrudable thermoplastic composition, little or no segregation of components occurs. Thus, the thermoplastic composition has good flow and low dusting characteristics, which in turn creates stability in use. EXAMPLES How Agitation Level and Hydration Time are Determined Dispersibility is a quantitative measurement of the compositions dispersion in water, that is generated by measuring the amount of agitation required to completely disperse the composition in water. To measure dispersion, the test apparatus used is a baffled agitated vessel with a variable speed agitator. The vessel is a 4-liter beaker (about 6.1 inch (15.5 cm) diameter x about 10 inches (25 cm) high. The agitator has two 6-blade turbines with 45° pitched, 1/2 (1.3 cm) inch wide blades with a 2.8 inch (7 cm) diameter. One turbine is located at 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) from the bottom and the other is 2 inches (5 cm) from the bottom. The vessel is also equipped with four 1/2-inch x 5 inch (1.3 cm x 12.7 cm) baffles that are mounted on two metal rings so that they are held about a 1/8 inch (0.3 cm) from the wall and can be set into the bottom of the vessel. The liquid level is filled to 8 inches (20 cm) from the bottom. Table I presents a scale of agitation levels which is correlated with bulk fluid velocity. This information is taken from "How to Design Agitators for Designed Process Response", Chemical Engineering , pages 102-110, April 26, 1976. The revolutions per minute required in the test apparatus described hereinbefore to achieve the tabulated agitation level has been calculated and is included in Table I. Process Requirements Set Degree of Agitation for Blending and Motion 1 Gallon RPM (3.8 liters) Level of Agitation Bulk Fluid Velocity ft/min 1 6 74 2 12 148 3 18 221 4 24 295 5 30 370 6 36 440 7 42 520 8 48 590 9 54 664 10 60 738 Agitation Levels 1 and 2 are characteristic of applications requiring minimum fluid velocities to achieve the process result. Agitation at level 2 will: (a) blend miscible fluids to uniformity if specific gravity differences are less than 0.1; (b) blend miscible fluids to uniformity if the viscosity of the most viscous is less than 100 times that of the other; (c) establish complete fluid-batch control; and (d) produce a flat, but moving, fluid-batch surface. Agitation levels 3 to 6 are characteristic of fluid velocities in most chemical process industries agitated batches. Agitation at level 6 will (a) blend miscible fluids to uniformity if specific gravity differences are less than 0.6; (b) blend miscible fluids to uniformity if the viscosity of the most viscous is less than 10,000 times that of the other; (c) suspend trace solids (>2 percent) with settling rates of 2 to 4 ft/min, (0.6 - 1.2 m/min) and (d) produce surface rippling at lower viscosities. Agitation levels 7 to 10 are characteristic of applications requiring high fluid velocity for the process result, such as in critical reactors. Agitation at level 10 will: (a) blend miscible fluids to uniformity if specific gravity differences are less than 1.0; (b) blend miscible fluids to uniformity if the viscosity of the most viscous is less than 100,000 times that of the other; (c) suspend trace solids (<2 percent) with settling rates of 4 to 6 ft/min. (1.2 - 1.8 m/min); and (d) provide surging surfaces at low viscosities. The hydration time is measured by a Brabender amylograph, measuring the time to achieve 90 percent of ultimate viscosity at a standard agitation level of the Brabender amylograph, assuming that the mixture completely disperses in cold water prior to testing and is immediately tested thereof. Example 1 A. In a plastic bag, 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg) of polyethylene glycol 400 (polyglycol E400NF, sold by The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan) was added to 10.5 lbs (4.8 kg) hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. The components were mixed within the bag to form a blend which was 30 percent plasticizer. B. Slowly the blend was added to a Reitz RE-6 Extruder with a die plate having 1/8 (0.3 cm) inch diameter holes and a screw speed of 32 rpm. The jacket was heated with atmospheric steam. The extruded material was recycled back into the extruder inlet several times until the temperature of the plasticized polymer was above 95°C, and the strands were firm and appeared uniform in texture and color. The strands will break on their own into short lengths. C. Cool the strands to room temperature. D. The strands broke into short lengths to form pellets and were ground with a lab Wiley mill equipped with a 20 U.S. Sieve Series mesh (0.8 mm) screen to form a granular coating formulation that will disperse in cold water with mild agitation and dissolve in less than 5 minutes and has a dispersibility (level of agitation) of 2. Example 2 A. In a plastic bag, 6.0 lbs (2.7 kg) of polyethylene glycol 400 (polyglycol E400NF, sold by The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan) was added to 9.0 lbs (4.1 kg) hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. The components were mixed within the bag to form a blend which was 40 percent plasticizer. B. Slowly the blend was added to a Reitz RE-6 Extruder with a die plate having 1/8 inch (0.3 cm) diameter holes and a screw speed of 72 rpm. The jacket was heated with atmospheric steam. The extruded material was recycled back into the extruder inlet several times until the temperature of the plasticized polymer was above 95°C, and the strands were firm and appeared uniform in texture and color. The strands will break on their own into short lengths. C. Cool the strands to room temperature. D. The strands broke into short lengths to form pellets and were ground with a model 197 Quadro Comil equipped with a 20 U.S. Sieve Series mesh (0.8 mm) screen to form a granular coating formulation that will disperse in cold water with very mild agitation and dissolve in less than 1 minute and has a dispersibility of 2. Example 3 A. In a plastic bag, 2.25 lbs (1.02 kg) of polyethylene glycol and 2.25 lbs (1.02 kg) of propylene glycol 400 (polyglycol E400NF, sold by The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan) were added to 10.5 lbs (4.8 kg) hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. The components were mixed within the bag to form a blend which was 30 percent plasticizer (15 percent polyethylene glycol and 15 percent propylene glycol). B. Slowly the blend was added to a Reitz RE-6 Extruder with a die plate having 1/8 inch (0.3 cm) diameter holes and a screw speed of 70 rpm. The jacket was heated with atmospheric steam. The extruded material was recycled back into the extruder inlet several times until the temperature of the plasticized polymer was above 92°C, and the strands were firm and appear uniform in texture and color. C. Cool the strands to room temperature. D. The strands broke into short lengths to form pellets and were ground with a lab Wiley mill equipped with a 20 U.S. Sieve Series mesh (0.8 mm) screen to form a granular coating formulation that will disperse in cold water with very mild agitation and dissolve in less than 5 minutes and has a dispersibility of 2. Example 4 A. In a plastic bag, 3.0 lbs (1.36 kg) of polyethylene glycol and 3.0 lbs (1.36 kg) of propylene glycol 400 (polyglycol E400NF, sold by The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan) were added to 9.0 lbs (4.1 kg) of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. The components were mixed within the bag to form a blend which was 40 percent plasticizer (20 percent polyethylene glycol and 20 percent propylene glycol). B. Slowly the blend was added to a Reitz RE-6 Extruder with a die plate having 1/8 (0.3 cm) inch diameter holes and a screw speed of 70 rpm. The jacket was heated with atmospheric steam. The extruded material was recycled back into the extruder inlet several times until the temperature of the plasticized polymer was above 82°C and the strands were firm and appeared uniform in texture and color. The strands will break on their own into short lengths. C. Cool the strands to room temperature. D. The strands broke into short lengths to form pellets and were ground with a model 197 Quadro Comil Mill equipped with a 20 U.S. Sieve Series mesh (0.8 mm) screen to form a granular coating formulation that will disperse in cold water with very mild agitation and dissolve in less than 5 minutes and has a dispersibility of 2. Concentrated solutions of the granular products of Examples 1 to 4 are sprayed onto a tablet bed in a conventional coating apparatus to provide on the tablets an edible coating.

Claims: A process for coating an oral unit dosage composition with a plasticizer and a thermally moldable polymer, which comprises: (a) extruding a coating composition, having a thermally moldable polymer and a plasticizer, at a temperature of at least 70°C to form an extruded material; (b) comminuting the resulting extruded material to form a granular product; (c) mixing the granular product in cold water wherein the granular product disperses and hydrates quickly to form a concentrated solution; and (d) spraying the concentrated solution onto an oral unit dosage form bed wherein an edible coated oral unit dosage is formed. A process of Claim 1, wherein before comminuting in step (b), the extruded material is cooled to a form suitable for grinding. A process of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the temperature at which the coating composition is extruded in step (a) is from 70 to 150°C. A process of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermally moldable polymer in step (a) is a cellulose ether. A process of Claim 4, wherein the cellulose ether is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose or hydroxethyl cellulose. A process of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plasticizer in step (a) is propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol or water. A process of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating composition comprises 50 to 95 weight percent cellulose ether, and 5 to 50 weight percent plasticizer. A process of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating composition also contains a pigment. A process of Claim 8, wherein the pigment to polymer ratio by weight is from 0:1 to 3:1. A process as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the thermally moldable polymer is a cellulose ether and the coating composition comprises 60 to 90 weight percent cellulose ether and pigment, with the pigment to cellulose ether ratio from 0:1 to 1:1 by weight; 10 to 40 weight percent plasticizer; and 0 to 0.3 weight percent surfactant. A process of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dosage composition is a pharmaceutical. A process of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the particle size of the granules is a mesh size from 0.8 - 0.1 mm (20 to 140 U.S. Sieve Series). A process of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the oral unit dosage form is a tablet. The use for coating an oral unit dosage form of a solution obtained by mixing in cold water, wherein it disperses and hydrates quickly to form a concentrated solution, a granular product resulting from the comminution of a mixture of thermally moldable polymer and plasticizer extruded at a temperature of at least 70°C. A use as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the solution is the product of step (c) of any one of Claims 2 to 10 and 12.

Inventors: ALDERMAN, DANIEL A., SCHULZ, GARY J.
Applicants: THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A61K9
IPC codes: A61K9, B05D7, A23L1, A61J3