Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Low-substituted

Synonyms: Cellulose, 2-hydroxypropyl ether; 2-hydroxypropyl ether (lowsubstituted) cellulose; hyprolose, low-substituted; L-HPC; oxypropylated cellulose.

Description: Low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose occurs as a white to yellowish white powder or granules. It is odorless or has a slight, characteristic odor, and it is tasteless.

Chemical Name: Cellulose, 2-hydroxypropyl ether (low-substituted)

Tablet and capsule disintegrant; tablet binder.

• Low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose is widely used in oral solid-dosage forms.

• It is primarily used as a disintegrant, and as a binder for tablets and granules in wet or dry granulation.

• It has been used in the preparation of rapidly disintegrating tablets produced by direct compression methods.

• In addition, lowsubstituted hydroxypropyl cellulose has been used as a binder/ disintegrant included in the powder layering process on spherical cores and to prepare pellets by extrusion/spheronization.

• A low particle size and high hydroxypropyl content is recommended to produce round spheres and rapid dissolution.

• There are a number of grades that have different particle sizes and substitution levels.

• LH-11 has the longest fibrous particles, and is typically used as an anticapping agent and disintegrant for direct compression.

• LH-21 is less fibrous and is used as a binder and disintegrant for tablets through the wet-granulation process.

• LH-31 is a small-particle grade used especially for extrusion to produce granules, as it has a small particle size that is better for passing a screen.

• LH-B1 is the nonfibrous, high-density grade designed for fluid-bed granulation, and can be used for direct compression and/ or formulations with a high low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose loading.

• Lower substitution grades LH-22 and LH-32 can be used for better disintegration capability, depending on the characteristics of the active ingredients.

• The typical content of low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose in a formulation is approximately 5–50%.

Alkaline substances may interact. If a tablet formulation contains such a material, the disintegration time may be extended after storage.

Low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose is generally regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritant material.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Excessive dust generation should be avoided to minimize the risk of explosions.

Hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose; hydroxypropyl cellulose; methylcellulose.