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The robustness of controlled release formulations when co-ingested with alcohol is a current concern expressed by regulatory authorities, especially with regard to dose dumping. One such controlled release formulation commonly used is film coating composed of ethyl cellulose (EC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC). The aim of this study was to investigate how the presence of ethanol in the dissolution medium affects the water permeability of such films. Film samples were prepared in various EC-HPC compositions, and the effect of different ethanol concentrations in the dissolution medium on the permeability was studied using a modified Ussing chamber and tritiated water. It was found that the effect of ethanol on the film permeability varied depending on the composition of the films. The results were interpreted in terms of swelling of the EC in the films, where the swelling increased with increasing ethanol concentration. Thus, for films with low HPC content (non-interconnected pores), the water permeability of the films increased with increasing ethanol concentration as the diffusion through the ethyl cellulose increased due to swelling. However, for films with higher HPC content (having interconnected pores through the films), the permeability decreased, likely due to the swelling of the ethyl cellulose blocking the pores. The interpretation of the results was supported by dynamic mechanic analysis and SEM analysis., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Three types of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) with differences in structure and surface charge were used at low concentration as filler materials in polysodium acrylate superabsorbents (SAPs). The swelling of the composite hydrogels was determined in 0.9% NaCl solution as well as in deionized water. The shear modulus of the samples was determined through uniaxial compression analysis after synthesis and after swelling in 0.9% NaCl solution. Furthermore, the ability to retain filler effects after washing was investigated. The results showed that all of the investigated MFCs had a strong reinforcing effect on the shear modulus after synthesis. The filler effect on swelling and on the associated shear modulus of swollen samples showed a more complicated dependence on structure and surface charge. Finally, it was found that the filler effects were reasonably retained after washing and subsequent drying. The results confirm that MFC holds great potential as a filler material in superabsorbent applications. Furthermore, the results provide some insight on how the structural properties and surface charge of MFC will affect gel properties depending on swelling conditions. This information should be useful in evaluating the use of different types of MFC in future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The solid-state properties were studied for different batches of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). The batches had similar chemical composition, but different degree of heterogeneity with regard to the distribution of the substituents along the polymer chains. The glass transition temperature, T g, was analysed using a new developed method where dynamic mechanic analysis, DMA, was performed in compression mode on compacts, utilizing a wedge-shaped probe. The method was verified by conventional DMA on films. Molecular interactions were studied using FT-IR. In addition, the water vapour sorption was determined by gravimetric measurements and the plasticization by water vapour was studied on film samples using DMA. The results revealed a linear relationship between increasing T g and increasing percent glucose liberated after enzyme hydrolysis. The percent glucose liberated can in turn be considered to account for both the heterogeneity of the substituents and the total degree of substitution. The results indicated that more heterogeneously substituted cellulose derivatives and derivates with a lower degree of substitution had stronger interactions between polymer chains. As expected from these results, some small difference in the plasticization by water vapour could be detected. However, no significant differences were found in molecular interactions using FT-IR or in the sorption of water vapour. The correlation between heterogeneity in the distribution of the substituents and T g is of much interest as heterogeneously substituted batches of HPMC have been previously shown to exhibit very different behaviour in solution and in gelling tablets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Microfibrillated cellulose was utilized at low concentrations as a filler material, added prior to free radical polymerization, in cross-linked superabsorbent polysodium acrylate hydrogels. The effect of microfibrillated cellulose concentration on equilibrium swelling, shear modulus after synthesis, and shear modulus at equilibrium swelling was studied at different degree of cross-linking. For the characterization of the microfibrillated cellulose optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and transmittance analysis were used. The shear modulus of the samples was determined using uniaxial compression analysis. The swelling of the gels was determined using classical gravimetrical measurements. It was found that microfibrillated cellulose was highly efficient in increasing the shear modulus of the gels. Furthermore, the microfibrillated cellulose was found to have the same effect on the swelling and shear modulus at equilibrium swelling as the same mass of the conventional covalent cross-linker N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA), while in fact improving the fracture resistance of the gels. In conclusion, microfibrillated cellulose shows great potential as an additive to enhance the performance of soft materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]