Permeation and Absorption of Ethanol/Water Mixture through Ethylcellulose Film

Ethylcellulose (EC) is water-insoluble, rate-controlling polymer which has been widely used as coatings of oral solid dosage forms, excipients for amorphous solid dispersions of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and films for buccal and transdermal drug delivery systems. The interaction of alcohol/water mixtures with EC films will ultimatively impact the drug delivery of the dosage form and thus the therapeutic and prophylactic outcome of the actives. The affinity of the spray solvent for EC can also impact drying rate, secondary drying rate (removal of residual solvent in a secondary batch process), and the glass transition temperature of the spray-dried dispersion. This study is to understand the interaction of alcohol/water mixtures with EC films of varying molecular weights which have been cast from organic solutions. These results can help pharmaceutical scientists design coating formulations for protection and/or modifying release of APIs with potential alcohol exposure or ingestion. Click here or on the picture to download the poster