Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/48—Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
  • A61K9/50—Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals
  • A61K9/5005—Wall or coating material
  • A61K9/5021—Organic macromolecular compounds
  • A61K9/5026—Organic macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly(meth)acrylates
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/48—Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
  • A61K9/50—Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals
  • A61K9/5005—Wall or coating material
  • A61K9/5021—Organic macromolecular compounds
  • A61K9/5036—Polysaccharides, e.g. gums, alginate; Cyclodextrin
  • A61K9/5042—Cellulose; Cellulose derivatives, e.g. phthalate or acetate succinate esters of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
  • A61K9/5047—Cellulose ethers containing no ester groups, e.g. hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/48—Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
  • A61K9/50—Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals
  • A61K9/5005—Wall or coating material
  • A61K9/501—Inorganic compounds
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/48—Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
  • A61K9/50—Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals
  • A61K9/5073—Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals having two or more different coatings optionally including drug-containing subcoatings
  • A61K9/5078—Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals having two or more different coatings optionally including drug-containing subcoatings with drug-free core

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a coating composition effective for taste masking of bitter and unpalatable drugs.
• drugs are administered orally as tablets or capsules.
• drugs can be provided either as chewable or dispersible tablets or, as liquid dosage forms such as solutions, emulsions and suspensions. These dosage forms permit perceptible exposure of the active drug to the taste buds.
• Some drugs are extremely bitter and therefore unpalatable when given in these dosage forms. As a consequence, measures need to be taken to mask the taste of these drugs in order to enhance patient compliance.
• the drug-polymer complex is believed to be held together by ionic attraction between the amine group of erythromycin compound and carbonyl group of the carbomer, and by the gel properties of the insoluble carbomer. This provides for a minimal dissolution of the erythromycin compound in a non-ionic aqueous medium, so that the drug is released from the complex slowly enough to avoid a significant perception of bitterness in the mouth. In the gastro-intestinal tract, the ionic environment causes liberation of the erythromycin compound.
• taste masking of the drug is achieved. This method, however, will be useful for masking the taste of only those drugs which can form reversible complexes and will, therefore, be limited in its utility.
• US 4,865,851 describes a taste masked formulation of cefuroxime axetil where the drug particles are provided with integral coatings of a lipid or mixtures of lipids which are insoluble in water and which serve to mask the bitter taste of cefuroxime axetil upon oral administration.
• This coating however, results in a significant reduction in the dissolution and consequently the bioavailability of cefuroxime axetil suspension is significantly low as compared to tablet dosage form.
• US 5,695,784 describes a method for taste masking of bitter drugs where the coating composition comprises a cationic copolymer of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and neutral methacryla te acid esters, neutral methyl esters and/or ethyl ester compounds of polymethacrylic acid, quaternary ammonium compounds of polymethacrylic acid or ethylcellulose and tri ethyl citrate and optionally hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.
• This coating composition requires the application of large quantities of polymers for effective taste masking.
• the present invention describes coating compositions and processes for the preparation of a pharmaceutical coating composition, effective in masking the taste of medicinal compounds, to be applied over the core constituted of medicinal compound.
• the core may comprise primary drug particles, granules, crystals, pellets or even unit dosage forms like tablets.
• the coat comprises a film forming polymer and a high viscosity swellable polymer, optionally also including other suitable ingredients for coating including lubricants, plasticizers and channeling agents.
• the combination of film forming polymer with swellable polymer imparts in the film a barrier property for the control of initial drug release suitable for taste-masking, without compromising on drug release over the stipulated duration of a conventional, immediate release formulation.
• very bitter drugs polymer applications may be as high as 80% on fine cores using conventional coating polymers.
• the present composition is capable of achieving the same degree of taste masking in as little as 10 to 15% of polymer application, equivalent to 20 - 30% of total solids applied. This, therefore, results in uniformity of coating thickness, process reproducibility, faster rate of dissolution and uncompromised bioavailability. It also makes the process cost effective and less time consuming.
• a variety of polymeric materials can be employed for film forming.
• Non- limiting examples of such film forming polymers may belong to the class of acrylic polymers, cellulosic polymers or vinyl polymers.
• the acrylic polymers used will be those available under the trade name Eudragit® from Rohm Pharma. More preferably the acrylic polymers may be methacrylic acid co-polymers sold under the trade name Eudragit L ® and Eudragit S ® , and polyethylacrylate-methylmethacrylate sold under the trade name, Eudragit NE ® .
• Cellulosic film-forming agents which are useful, include, alkylcelluloses, such as, methyl or ethyl cellulose and, hydroxyalkylcelluloses (eg., hydroxypropylcellulose or hyroxypropylmethyl-celluloses).
• alkyl cellulosic film forming polymers include those sold under the trade names Methocel ETM and Surelease by Dow Chemicals, and Aquacoat ® of FMC.
• Examples of vinyl film forming polymers include polyvinyl acetate or polyvinyl acetate pthalate. The dry weight of the film forming polymer may be applied to a maximum of 30% of the weight of the core for taste masking.
• the swellable polymers which may be used in combination with the film forming polymers include carbopol, high viscosity gums, carrageenan, high viscosity vinyl polymers or high viscosity cellulosic polymers such as MethocelTM K series polymers (Trademark Dow Chemicals). Swellable polymers may be present from 0.1 - 20% of the dry weight of film forming polymer.
• the coating composition may optionally include pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, which are conventionally used as a channeling agent such as starch, lactose or (PEG) poly ethylene glycol.
• a channeling agent such as starch, lactose or (PEG) poly ethylene glycol.
• the channeling agent may be present upto 100%, preferably 60%, or more preferably, upto 30% of the dry weight of the film forming polymer.
• the coating composition also contains lubricants which function as anti- sticking agents (e.g. talc, colloidal silica and magnesium stearate) and pharmaceutically acceptable plasticisers (e.g. triethyl citrate, polyethylene glycol, glyceryl monostearate, giyceryl triacetate, acetyl triethylcitrate, triethylcitrate, dibutyl phthalate and dibutyl sebacate).
• the lubricant quantity may be upto 200% of the dry weight of film-forming polymer, and more preferably, upto 100% of the dry weight of the film-forming polymer.
• the plasticiser quantity may be upto 40% the dry weight of the film forming polymer.
• the coated formulations may optionally be cured at elevated temperatures.
• a total polymer content in the coating of upto 30% by weight of pharmaceutical cores or, more preferably, 10% by weight of pharmaceutical cores is sufficient to mask the taste of bitter tasting, highly water soluble drugs.
• the taste masked coated particles obtained by the composition of the present invention can be mixed with food or beverages, can be used to prepare liquid suspensions for oral administration, or can be formulated into conventional whole, chewable, or dispersible tablets for oral administration.
• pharmaceutically acceptable ingredients well known in conventional arts can be employed.
• a mean average particle size of less than 50 mesh (297 microns) is preferred.
• the drug may optionally be first formulated as pellets, tablets or capsules, which may then be coated for taste-masking.
• Table 1.1 shows a coating composition which has been used for taste masking of a number of drug cores :
• aqueous talc dispersion (30% w/w), was added to a 1 % w/w carbopol dispersion in water under stirring for 30 minutes.
• Carbopol-talc dispersion was finally added into plasticized (with PEG 1500) Eudragit dispersion with stirring for 30-40 minutes.
• the total polymer content of the applied coat was 12.0% by weight of the core while the total solids applied was 26% by weight of the core.
• a total polymer coating of only 12% was sufficient to mask the bitter taste of Norfloxacin while giving optimum dissolution required for immediate release formulations. (Table 1.3).
• ibuprofen was granulated and coated for taste masking, as discussed below. Table 2.1
• Etodolac, Avicel PH 102, Starch 1500 and PVP K-30 were blended in a double cone blender. Aerosil 200, sifted through BSS #60, was added to the blend and mixed for 2 minutes. The blend was granulated with water and dried at 60°C for 4 hours. Dried material was sifted to obtain fraction of BSS #44/85 and lubricated with magnesium stearate (0.75g). The dried and lubricated granules (150.g) were sprayed with the prepared coating solution as described in Example 1 (Table 1.1). The total polymer coating of 12.0% by weight of the core was sufficient to mask the bitter taste of the drug. The total solids applied was 26%. The coated granules gave optimum dissolution as shown in Table 3.2.
• a dispersion was pepared by dissolving HPC-L in water, followed by the addition of ciprofloxacin hydrochioride and talc with vigorous stirring.
• the suspension was homogenised for 30 minutes, sieved and coated on 100 g microcrystalline cellulose spheres (Celphere® , FMC Corp., USA) having an average
• Celphere beads 100 g were introduced into the processing chamber of Wurster coater (Glatt GPCG-1 from Glatt GmbH, Germany) and the prepared drug suspension was sprayed from the bottom at a spray rate of 5 - 9 g/min. After spraying was complete the drug loaded cores were dried.
• the total polymer content of the applied coat was 11.90% by weight of the core while the total solids application was 27% by weight of the core.
• the bitter taste of ciprofloxacin was masked with the applied coat without affecting dissolution, as shown in Table 5.3
• Table 6.1 describes another coating composition containing a film forming polymer (ethyl cellulose) and a swellable polymer (carbopol).
• aqueous talc dispersion (30% w/w) was added to a 1% carbopol dispersion in water under stirring for 30 minutes.
• the carbopol - talc dispersion was finally added into plasticized (with triethyl citrate) ethyl cellulose dispersion with stirring for 30-40 minutes.
• Paracetamol, PVP K-30, Lactose, and Avicel PH 101 were mixed in a double cone blender for 10 minutes. They were then granulated with water, dried in a tray drier at 60°C for 4 hours and sifted to give BSS fraction #30/85. The granules thus obtained were lubricated with Aerosil 200 and sprayed with the prepared coating solution using Wurster Coater (Glatt GPCG-1 , GmbH, Germany). The total polymer content of the coat applied was 12% by weight of the core. This coating effectively masked the pungent taste of paracetamol and also gave the desired dissolution profile as shown in Table 6.3
• Example 7 deals with the same coating composition as given in Table 6.1, wherein ethyl cellulose has been combined with carbopol in a 100 : 2 proportion.
• the drug particles which have been coated is constituted of ciprofloxacin base and its composition is described in Table 7.1.
• Table 7.2 shows the dissolution profiles of the coated and uncoated granules using USP apparatus - 2 at 75 rpm in 900 ml of 0.1 N hydrochloric acid.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
• Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)

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Citations (9)

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• 1999
  • 1999-03-19 IN IN454DE1999 patent/IN191482B/en unknown
  • 1999-10-26 WO PCT/IB1999/001735 patent/WO2000056266A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-10-26 AU AU62246/99A patent/AU6224699A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-10-26 EP EP99949283A patent/EP1235556A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-10-26 BR BR9917219-4A patent/BR9917219A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-10-26 CN CNA998165883A patent/CN1615121A/zh active Pending
• 2001
  • 2001-09-19 ZA ZA200007724A patent/ZA200007724B/xx unknown

Patent Citations (9)

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