Skip to content

Hypromellose

    Synonyms:E1440; hydroxylpropyl starch.

    Description: Hypromellose is an odorless and tasteless, white or creamy-white fibrous or granular powder.

    Chemical Name: Cellulose hydroxypropyl methyl ether

    Bioadhesive material; coating agent; controlled-release agent; dispersing agent; dissolution enhancer; emulsifying agent; emulsion stabilizer; extended-release agent; film-forming agent; foaming agent; granulation aid; modified-release agent; mucoadhesive; release-modifying agent; solubilizing agent; stabilizing agent; suspending agent; sustained-release agent; tablet binder; thickening agent; viscosity-increasing agent

    • Hypromellose is widely used in oral, ophthalmic, nasal, and topical pharmaceutical formulations.

    • In oral products, hypromellose is primarily used as a tablet binder, in film-coating, and as a matrix for use in extendedrelease tablet formulations.

    • Concentrations between 2% and 5% w/w may be used as a binder in either wet- or dry-granulation processes.

    • High-viscosity grades may be used to retard the release of drugs from a matrix at levels of 10–80% w/w in tablets and capsules.

    • Hypromellose is also used in liquid oral dosage forms as a suspending and/or thickening agent at concentrations ranging from 0.25–5.0%.

    • Depending upon the viscosity grade, concentrations of 2–20% w/w are used for film-forming solutions to film-coat tablets.

    • Lowerviscosity grades are used in aqueous film-coating solutions, while

    Hypromellose is incompatible with some oxidizing agents. Since it is nonionic, hypromellose will not complex with metallic salts or ionic organics to form insoluble precipitates

    Hypromellose is widely used as an excipient in oral, opthalmic, nasal, and topical pharmaceutical formulations. It is also used extensively in cosmetics and food products. Hypromellose is generally regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritating material, although excessive oral consumption may have a laxative effect. The WHO has not specified an acceptable daily intake for hypromellose since the levels consumed were not considered to represent a hazard to health. In fact, high dosages of hypromellose are being investigated for treating various metabolic syndromes.

    Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Hypromellose dust may be irritating to the eyes, so eye protection is recommended. Excessive dust generation should be avoided to minimize the risks of explosion. Hypromellose is combustible.

    Ethylcellulose; hydroxyethyl cellulose; hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose; hydroxypropyl cellulose; hypromellose acetate succinate; hypromellose phthalate; methylcellulose.