See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/263725433

Film Coating Technology: Past, Present and Future

Article · March 2014

DOI: 10.1166/jpsp.2014.1007

CITATIONS READS
2 5,161

5 authors, including:

Alok Pratap Singh Mohd Yasir

I.T.S. Pharmacy College I.T.S. Pharmacy College
6 PUBLICATIONS   63 CITATIONS    32 PUBLICATIONS   270 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Preformulation studies View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Mohd Yasir on 26 January 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Article
Journal of
Pharmaceutical Sciences
and Pharmacology
Copyright © 2014 American Scientific Publishers
All rights reserved Vol. 1, 57–67, 2014
Printed in the United States of America www.aspbs.com/jpsp

Film Coating Technology: Past, Present and Future

Praveen Kumar Gaur1 ∗ , Shikha Mishra2 , Rohit Gautam1 , Alok Pratap Singh1 , and Mohd Yasir1
1
Department of Pharmaceutics, I.T.S. Paramedical College (Pharmacy), Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, U.P. 201206, India
2
Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India

Film coating has evolved with time keeping in pace with the demands of the Pharmaceutical industry. There has been
tremendous and necessary modification like improved production equipment and the development of highly efficient film-
coating formulations and polymers which has accelerated the acceptance of film-coating technology. Film coating has
taken over sugar coating owing to the broader flexibility and additional functionalities in former. There has been state
of the art level improvisation in methodology and technique exemplified by solvent or water based and dry coating. The
main focus of this literature review is to summon up the different types of coating technologies and various parameters
and variables that play a major role during the entire process. Commentary on future direction is also provided.
KEYWORDS: Film Coating, Aqueous Coating, Dry Coating, Process Parameters.

INTRODUCTION pump, pulsatile

Delivered by Publishing Technology
IP: 162.218.208.135
Each drug has its own characteristics, like bitterness, On: Tue, 14
Copyright: American
unpleasant odour, lightsensitivity or hygroscopicity. Tablet
coating was done to solve such problems in conventional
dosage form. Previously, sugar coating was mostly applied
to achieve this purpose. But it was skilled manipulative and
time consuming process that could last for even five days so
it got replaced by film coating (Porter, 2011). The operator
had to be highly skilled for such coating. Hence film coat-
ing was preferred and eventually it replaced sugar coating.
The current drugs are diverse in chemical nature as well
as in physical attributes. It can give a bitter taste in the
mouth or has an unpleasant odour. Such properties can be
appropriated by using coating technology which can in turn
improve the patient compliance (Fig. 1). Further the core
may contain a substance which is light sensitive or affected
by oxidation so coating can be added to improve stabil-
ity by acting as a physical barrier to environmental storage
conditions. The coating develops the mechanical integrity
which means coated products are more resistant to mishan-
dling (abrasion, attrition etc.). It also improves the appear-
ance and creates a unique look for identification. The major
attribute of coating is modulation of release profile e.g.,
extended release, enteric coating (delayed release), osmotic
∗
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Email: gaurmpharma@rediffmail.com
Received: 15 September 2013
Accepted: 25 October 2013
delivery,
to: Guest Userthereby improving upon bioavail-
abilityOct
and 2014 14:24:21
therapeutic potential of a drug. On a different
Scientific
note, Publishers
coating reduces friction and increases packaging rate
(Lachman et al., 1989; Libermen and Lachman, 2003).
BASIC PRINCIPLE INVOLVED IN
TABLET COATING
Coating may be applied to a wide range of oral solid
dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, multi partic-
ulates and drug crystals by applying spray-atomisation
technique. Primary components involved in tablet coating
are properties of tablet, processing variables, equipments,
ancillary equipments and automation in coating processes
e.g., coating process design and control. Usually, the coat-
ing mixture is sprayed through a nozzle onto the tablets as
the tablets are being agitated in a pan or fluid bed. A film
of coating liquid is formed on tablet surface as the coating
mixture is sprayed. This film can be formed with a single
application or through multiple spraying in a batch pro-
cess consisting batch identification and formula selection,
loading, heating, spraying, cooling and drying (Libermen
and Lachman, 2003).
CLASSIFICATION
Organic Solvent Based
In the early 1950s, film coating was performed by applying
the polymers dissolved in organic solvents which provided
several benefits over sugar coating such as less processing

J. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. 2014, Vol. 1, No. 1 2333-3715/2014/1/057/011 doi:10.1166/jpsp.2014.1007 57

Film Coating Technology: Past, Present and Future Gaur et al.

Delivered by Publishing Technology to: Guest User

IP: 162.218.208.135 On: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:24:21
Copyright: American Scientific Publishers

Figure 1. Chronological development (Decade wise) in coating technology.

time, possibility of preparing thin smooth continuous coat- Dispersions

ings and reduced risk of hydrolysis (Fig. 2).
The film formation occurs due to removal of the sol-
vent causing an increase in concentration of polymer
resembling a gel. However, coating with organic solutions
decreased in popularity due to the restrictions concerning
hazardous solvents. On the other hand, environmental con-
cerns and regulatory issues enhanced the production costs,
due to solvent recovery (Savage and Rhodes, 1995).
Aqueous Based Coating
Solutions
Primary requirement for the polymer is to be water solu-
ble. These systems have been used as protective coatings
as they result in water-soluble films without any release
modifying effects. Commonly used hydrophilic polymers
are cellulose derivatives such as HPMC however PVP,
PVA and PEGs are also suitable. Small molecular weight
polymers are favoured to optimize the ratio of solid con-
tent to viscosity for the coating formulation. Optimal inter-
action of the polymer can be obtained by the use of
water-soluble plasticisers e.g., glycerol, propylene glycol
or triacetin (Lehmann, 1994; Porter, 1990).
Recently, aqueous polymer dispersions are being used
in coating of water-insoluble polymers due to increas-
ing concerns about the toxicity of the organic solvents,
environmental pollution and cost-intensive solvent recov-
ery systems. The size of the polymer particles in these
two-phase systems is in the colloidal range, with the upper
limit around 1 m, to ensure good storage stability. The
main property of these dispersions is their low viscosity
despite their high solids content, which may reach up to
30% of the total formulation (Dillon et al., 1951).
The major problem related to aqueous coating systems
is prolonged processing time due to the higher heat of
vaporization of water however this problem was eradi-
cated by modified equipment design such as development
of side-vented perforated coating pans and fluidized bed
equipment for increased drying efficiency. Process automa-
tion and the concept of validation have resulted in a strong
increase of productivity. The film formation from aque-
ous colloidal dispersions is a complex, multi-step process.
The polymer particles are closely packed upon increasing
concentration of the dispersion due to water evaporation.
In this ordered arrangement the polymer particles come
into contact with each other for the first time. Further

58 J. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. 1, 57–67, 2014

Gaur et al. Film Coating Technology: Past, Present and Future

formation the individual particles lose their identity after

the diffusion of polymer chains through the boundary and
formation of a continuous film with adequate mechanical
properties occurs. The performance of the resulting film is
highly affected by the temperature during film formation.
If the temperature remains above the boiling temperature
of water the vapour pressure during film-formation may
be sufficient to burst the surface film layer causing voids
and pinholes. These imperfections may be responsible for
higher water vapour permeability or enhanced drug release
(Harris and Sellassie, 1997).

Redispersible Powders
These systems were originally developed for enteric poly-
mers which were esters, prone to hydrolysis in aque-
ous media (Porter, 1990). e.g., Aquateric, the commercial
redispersible powder of cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP),
or redispersible Eudragit L, enteric variant of methacrylic
acid copolymer (Bodmeier and Paeratakul, 1994). Addi-
tional advantages of redispersible powder formulations are
less propensity for flocculation when exposed to high shear
forces or temperature changes, reduced storage and ship-
ping cost and enhanced microbiological stability. Redis-
persible polymer powders are usually prepared through
freeze- or spray drying of polymer dispersions. But, it is
important that the properties of the original polymer dis-
persions are
Delivered by Publishing Technology to:regained after the redispersion of the polymer
Guest User
IP: 162.218.208.135 On: Tue,powder
14 Oct especially the original particle size distribution
2014 14:24:21
Copyright: American Scientific
since an Publishers
increase in the particle size can affect the film
formation negatively.
The film formation from aqueous dispersion occurs by
coalescence of particles in a continuous film (Fig. 3). The
coalescence of aqueous polymer dispersion is initiated by
water evaporation which pushes dispersed polymer parti-
cles into a closely packed, ordered array with water filled
voids. After the polymer particles come into contact with
each other, they deform and fuse in order to coalesce into
a film. Coalescence occurs when the promoting forces are
greater than the resistive forces of the particles. Film forma-
tion, i.e., coalescence, is a complex process and depends on
coating and storage conditions, coating polymer, polymer

Aqueous dispersion of coating material deposited

on the surface of the tablet

Water vaporization

Compaction and deformation of coating material

on the surface of the tablet
Figure 2. Types of film coating.
Water vaporization

water loss goes along with a deformation of the particles
forming a denser array (Cole, 1998). Dry sintering and
capillary forces are considered as possible mechanisms for
the particle deformation. Finally, in the last stage of film
Coalescence of coating material on the surface of
the tabletand form a film
Figure 3. Mechanism of aqueous polymer film formation
process.

J. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. 1, 57–67, 2014 59

Film Coating Technology: Past, Present and Future
molecular weight and particle size, coating liquid con-
stituents and properties like viscosity and surface. Since
coalescence occurs above a minimum film formation tem-
perature (MFT), temperature and rate of water evaporation
are major process-related factors affecting the properties of
coatings. Usually, a thermal after-treatment (curing) is done
to remove the film defects (Aulton, 1995; Lachman et al.,
1989).
Process Parameters
The spraying rate affects the moisture content which in
turn affects quality and uniformity of the film. A low spray
rate will give a brittle film due to incomplete coalescence
due to inadequate wetting and a high spray rate causes
over wetting resulting in picking and sticking. The spray
rate also interacts with tablet temperature and a low tablet
temperature with high spray rate can produce cracks in
the film. Increase in pressure reduces the surface rough-
ness by producing thin dense film however excessive pres-
sure forms very fine droplets which spray dries before
getting to tablet bed causing spray loss. The inlet air tem-
perature impacts the drying process and coating unifor-
mity. High temperature enhances the drying efficiency and
decreases the water penetration however too much air tem-
perature can cause premature drying and reduces the effi-
ciency. Since water is less volatile than organic solvents
and requires higher drying capacity resulting in higher
energy cost of the entire coatingDelivered by Publishing
process. Ideal Cures Pvt. Technology
IP: 162.218.208.135 On: Tue,
Ltd. has developed some products (INSTACOAT range
Copyright: American Scientific Publishers
for example Instacoat EHP 250, Instacoat EMB, Instacoat
EEN, Instacoat EHA, Instacoat Aqua, Instacoat Aqua II,
Instacoat Aqua III and Instacoat P4) which dries faster and
the whole coating process can be completed in the same
or sometimes little less time as compared to organic sol-
vent based coatings. The increase in rotating speed can
improve the mixing but to a certain level. An increase in
the pan speed reduces variation in thickness and enhances
the coating uniformity however a excessively high speed
can lead to undesired breakage.
Air Pressure of Atomisation
Usually, the drug should be stable to withstand all the pro-
cessing parameters as per the specification however it is
important to consider the properties of the drug. There is a
strong potential of interaction that can occur between the
drug and polymeric material or any other additive. Poly-
meric material after atomisation can possibly dissolve the
outer layer of the substrate and the components of the lat-
ter may also migrate e.g., migration and subsequent recrys-
tallization of propranolol HCl in Eudragit NE 30D films
so sub-coating is done to overcome this problem as it pre-
vents interactions and it is suitable when enteric coating
is being done on an acid-labile drug as enteric coating
polymers are acidic in nature (Rekhi et al., 1995).
Size and shape of the substrate is also of consider-
able importance as its movement within the equipment is
60
Gaur et al.
deeply influenced. A biconvex, round tablet is preferred as
flat tablets tend to agglomerate during the process. There
are possibilities of shallow convex tablets undergoing abra-
sion due to its sharp edges and thus sub-coating becomes
essential.
Surface wettability is important, as wetting and spread-
ing of the polymer material is related to the smoothness of
the film and adhesion to the substrate. Coated multipartic-
ulate systems offer several advantages over larger, single
unit dosage forms, especially when applied to modified-
release coatings, due to greater uniformity in GI transit
time and a reduced potential for premature release. These
coated particles can be filled into capsules or compressed
into tablets. When compressing coated particles, the force
used during the tabletting process and the mechanical
strength of the coating are critical. Faster drug release may
occur if the film cracks or fractures during compaction,
while slower drug release has been reported when the coat-
ings fuse together to form a matrix. Excipients, such as
microcrystalline cellulose, minimize direct contact of the
coated pellets and dissipate the compression forces to pre-
vent film fracture.
Polymeric films adhere to the substrate surface using
two major forces namely the strength of the interfa-
cial bonds and the internal stresses within the film. The
primary type of interfacial bonding is hydrogen bond for-
mation, although dipole and dipole-induced dipole interac-
tions
to: Guest User
14 also occur.14:24:21
Oct 2014 Substrate considerations, such as surface
roughness, tablet
hardness and substrate hydrophobicity
can affect the strength of interfacial bonding. In contrast,
internal stresses, which arise from forces due to shrinkage
of the film upon solvent evaporation, thermal stress due to
the differences in thermal expansion of the film and the
substrate and volumetric stress due to swelling during stor-
age, tend to weaken adhesion. Use of excipients with ther-
mal expansion coefficients similar to that of the polymer
can reduce internal stresses and improve polymer adhesion
(Lippold and Monells, 2001; Okutgen et al., 1991; Franz
and Doonan, 1983).
Dry Coating
There are several disadvantages of using the solvents
whether aqueous or organic e.g., drying time and microbi-
ological stability for aqueous coating whereas safety and
environment hazards for organic solvents. These issues
have led to the adoption of dry powder coating techniques
in a number of other industries. Among these are technolo-
gies which range from the atomization of molten materials,
commonly known as melt coating, to softened powder lay-
ering and electrostatic adhesion. Types of Dry Coating are
as follows (Felton and Porter, 2013):
Electrostatic Dry Coating
This novel coating technique is an alternative to aqueous
or solvent based coating process is widely useful in food
technology, paint technology, metal coatings, coating of
J. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. 1, 57–67, 2014
Gaur et al.
living cells and coating of tablets as well as capsules. The
principle of electrostatic powder coating states that spray-
ing of a mixture of finely grounded particles and polymers
onto a substrate surface without using any solvent and then
heating the substrate for curing in oven until the powder
mixture is fused into film.
According to the charging mechanism, there are two
types of spraying units namely
(a) Corona charging
(b) Tribo charging.
Magnetically Assisted Impaction Coating
In this technique the particles are assumed to stay in a
fluidized state where the distribution of velocities is a
Maxwell–Boltzmann type. It is assumed that the collisions
occurring among the particles are important for impinging
the guest particles onto the surface of host particles thereby
making a transient surface on the host particles. The coating
time depends on various parameters e.g., properties of the
host and guest particles, number of host particles, height of
the fluidized bed and ratio of the host and guest particles
diameters. For a particular coating time, the bed height and
particle size should be optimum (Singh et al., 2001).
Film Formation Mechanisms in
Dry Powder Coating
Film formation takes place by a process of evaporation,
coalescence and sintering whichDelivered by Publishing
are influenced by pro- Technology
IP: 162.218.208.135 On: Tue,
cess and formulation considerations. During the dry pow-
Copyright: American Scientific Publishers
der coating process, the substrates are often heated above
the glass transition temperature of the layering materials
so that the coating materials soften and adhere to the sub-
strate. For conventional film coating, spreading and adher-
ence is not limited by mobility however, powder systems
may become limited by mobility, particularly when liquid
levels are reduced to the point where solid particle defor-
mation becomes rate limiting. This introduces a series of
constraints related to mechanical and thermal properties
of the coating formulation. Coalescence and film forma-
tion are therefore dependent on these properties as well.
As such, glass transition temperature and plastic deforma-
tion characteristics of the coating materials are paramount
to the success of the process. Many pharmaceutical coat-
ing materials are amorphous polymers, exhibiting a glass
transition temperature related to the change from a glass
to a super cooled liquid. On transition, which occurs at a
specific temperature, mobility of the system increases sig-
nificantly. The greater mobility allows for molecular rear-
rangement and alters the plastic deformation characteristics
of the materials.
The mechanism of film formation of the powders lay-
ered onto the solid cores is—summarized as (Felton and
Porter, 2013; Felton, 2007):
(i) Coalescence and sintering of the particles of the poly-
meric materials in a process that involves the partial fusion
of the polymer;
J. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. 1, 57–67, 2014
Film Coating Technology: Past, Present and Future
(ii) Levelling of the coating material includes densifica-
tion of the layer with reduction of the empty spaces and
smoothening of the surface;
(iii) Cooling of the layer and hardening of the coating.
Based on Function
Protective Coatings
Thin films of water soluble polymers are often applied
for taste or odour masking or to improve the stability
of moisture sensitive products or for better mechanical
resistance of the product during handling. Such protective
coatings need to remain intact for the short time of swal-
lowing and after that they should immediately dissolve to
ensure immediate drug release. These polymers are water-
soluble, e.g., cellulose ethers (e.g., hydroxypropyl methyl-
cellulose (HPMC)), polyvinyl acetate (PVA) or polyvinyl
pyrrolidone (PVP). Eudragit® E is a methacrylic copoly-
mer, insoluble in saliva, but rapidly dissolves in the acidic
pH of the stomach. Sometimes enteric polymers, e.g., shel-
lac can also be applied at very low concentration which
gives very low film thickness insufficient to provide gastric
resistance and disintegrates in the stomach within 30 min
(Lehmann, 1994; Porter, 1990; Porter, 2011).
Functional Coatings
Film coatings, which are applied to achieve a desired
to: Guest
release profile, are User
usually termed modified-release or
14 Oct 2014
functional 14:24:21
coatings. Those, intended to protect the drug
from the acidic environment of the stomach are enteric
coatings. Extended release coatings, in contrast, are
intended to control the release of the drug over a prolonged
period of time (Porter, 1990).
Enteric Coatings. Enteric coatings are prepared from
gastric resistant polymers which remain intact in stom-
ach, but immediately dissolve in small intestine. The
most effective enteric polymers contain many carboxylic
groups with a pKa of 3–5. Therefore they will dissoci-
ate and dissolve only when the pH rises above this value
(Porter, 2011; Lehmann, 1994). Before the synthetic poly-
mers were introduced to the market, shellac, a natural
polymer, was one of the main polymer used for this pur-
pose. Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) was the first syn-
thetic polymer described in 1937, which soon gained high
popularity as a gastric resistant polymer. Later polyvinyl
acetate phthalate (PVAP) and hydroxypropyl methylcel-
lulose phthalate (HPMCP) were preferred, due to their
lower permeability in the gastric fluid and improved sta-
bility against hydrolysis. Today methacrylate copolymers
Eudragit® L and S are two of the most widely used poly-
mers for this purpose (Malm and Waring, 1937; Zheng and
McGinity, 2003).
Extended Release Coatings. The patient compliance is
usually inversely proportional with the frequency of drug
administration especially when multiple daily administra-
tions are necessary to maintain constant blood levels of the
61
Film Coating Technology: Past, Present and Future
drug. Therefore, extended release polymers were devel-
oped, which are able to provide a sustained action by a
controlled release over time. Waxes and some natural poly-
mers were already discovered earlier to be useful to pro-
long the drug release if coated onto the solid dosage forms.
Mostly their mechanism of performance is based on slow
degradation or erosion. Polymers for extended release are
in general insoluble in water over the entire pH range. The
drug release is thus controlled by diffusion through the
hydrated polymer or through cracks or water-filled pores.
There are still only few polymers available on the mar-
ket for extended release, e.g., cellulose acetate, ethylcel-
lulose or the methacrylic acid copolymers Eudragit® RS,
RL and NE. Combinations of ethylcellulose with waxes,
water-soluble or enteric polymers were investigated to
achieve extended drug release for drug with varying or
even pH-dependent solubilities. Synthetic polymers, how-
ever, do not fit into the overall product concept of phyto-
pharmaceutical products, or as for nutraceuticals they are
not approved. Therefore several attempts were undertaken
to achieve sustained drug release by using only natural
polymers. The drug release from silk fibroin coated tablets
after cross-linking with a carbodiimide was extended to
several hours (Savage and Rhodes, 1995). Shellac is also
able to provide prolonged drug release at higher coating
levels or as matrix forming material. However, there is no
drug release for such systems in the gastric medium due to
the enteric property of shellac. Delivered by Publishing Technology
Zein as a water-insoluble
IP: 162.218.208.135 On: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:24:21
natural polymer is an alternative for extended drug release,
Copyright: American Scientific Publishers
especially in combination with an additional enteric top-
coat (Mazer et al., 1992).
Active Coating
In it, the drug is embedded into the coat to formulate a
fixed dose combination or to modify the release profile.
The beadlets are then filled into capsules however the vol-
ume limitation of capsules makes it an unsuitable approach
for higher dose drugs (Seitz et al., 1988).
This is particularly useful for the drugs unstable at
high mechanical stress. In an active coating process, com-
mon pharmaceutical operations can be avoided. Drugs that
undergo acid or base catalysed degradation have been sta-
bilized by this technique. It gives relatively high drug to
excipient ratio than encapsulating such molecules in the
tablet core. Fixed dose combinations can be formulated by
this approach (Hogan, 1998).
The primary concerns of an active coating process
are end-point, content uniformity, efficiency and stability
which are either directly or indirectly affected by pro-
cess parameters such as rate of spraying, inlet air temper-
ature, residual moisture, pan speed, atomisation pressure
and drug properties. The end point is estimated by the gain
in tablet weight or quantity of coating suspension sprayed.
Periodically, tablets are sampled and analysed for the drug
amount (Lipper et al., September 11–12, 2006). Several
mathematical models have been proposed to ascertain a
62
Gaur et al.
correlation between coating parameters and content unifor-
mity but the model proposed by Cheng et al. has confirmed
to be most robust (Chen et al., 2010; Chen et al., 2008).
Coating time is also an important parameter since a
longer coating time results in better content uniformity but
it makes the process not amenable for a high volume prod-
uct. On the other hand, too short coating time can lead to
incomplete coating process. Spray zone width should not
be too narrow or too wide. If the tablet bed has not been
appropriately covered then there will be either unsprayed
substrate or unused deposit of coating solution.
Coating process should yield the tablets having required
polymorphic forms and the coating suspension should
crystallise after drying. The stability is adversely affected
if the coating stays in amorphous state. The polymor-
phism also depends on coating excipients e.g., plasticisers
(Narang et al., 2011; Narang et al., 2012; Chen et al., 2010;
Chen et al., 2008).
Effectiveness of the Active Coating Process. The coat-
ing efficiency improves significantly when the droplet size
is smaller than 10 m. By appropriate selection of atomiz-
ing and pattern air volume, the fraction of droplets smaller
than 10 microns can be reduced to improve the overall
efficiency of the coating process. Factors governing them
such as high ratios of the suspension spray rate to atom-
ization air flow rate, suspension spray rate to pattern air
flow rate, or atomization air flow rate to pattern air flow
to: Guest
rate can improve theUser
coating efficiency.
FILM COATING FORMULATION
COMPONENTS
Polymers
A polymer is a large molecules made up of many identical
subunits of monomers (Table I).
Immediate Release Coating Polymers
Cellulose Derivates. The most widely used cellulosic
polymers is Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC)
which is readily soluble in aqueous medium and forms flex-
ible strong films which adhere to the core. Other examples:
MC (Methyl Cellulose) and HPC (Hydroxypropyl Cellu-
lose) (Hogan, 1998; Lachman et al., 1989; Lehmann, 1994).
Vinyl Derivates. The most widely used vinyl polymer
is Poly Vinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP) however it has inherent
tackiness. For better film coating, its copolymer with vinyl
acetate is used.
Modified Release Coating Polymers
Extended Release Coating Polymers. They are dis-
solved in organic solvent or dispersed in aqueous medium
e.g., highly substituted cellulose making them water-
insoluble, example: Ethyl Cellulose (EC).
Enteric Coating Polymers.
(a) Methacrylic Acid. The presence of carboxylic acid
groups renders this class to be insoluble in water at low pH
J. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. 1, 57–67, 2014
Gaur et al. Film Coating Technology: Past, Present and Future

Table I. Film coatings are available based on the following polymeric materials.

S. no Polymer Trade name Functions

Cellulose-based coatings
1. Cellulose Acetate Phthalate Aquacoat CPD® , C–A–P NF Enteric coating
(CAP) Eastman
2. Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose Sepifilm™LP Immediate release
(HPMC)
3. Hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) Klucel® Polymer extender, subcoat
4. Ethylcellulose Aquacoat® ECD, Aqualon® , Immediate release, taste
Surelease® masking, sustained release
5. Methylcellulose Metolose® SM-4 Taste masking, pellet coating
6. Microcrystalline cellulose and LustreClear™ Taste masking
carrageenan
Methacrylate based coating
1. Anionic polymer of methacrylic Eudragit® L 100-55, Eudragit® S Enteric coating
acid and methacrylates with a 100, Eudragit® L 30 D-55
–COOH group Eudragit® L 100, Eudragit® FS 30
2. Cationic polymer with a Eudragit® E PO and Eudragit E 100
dimethylaminoethyl ammonium
group
3. Copolymers of acrylate and Insoluble, High permeability Sustained release
methacrylates with quarternary Eudragit® RL PO, Eudragit® RL
ammonium group. and Eudragit® RL 30D Insoluble,
Low Permeability Eudragit® RS
PO and Eudragit® RS 30D
4. Copolymers of acrylate and Eudragit RD 100 Rapidly disintegrating
methacrylates with quarternary
ammonium group in
combination with sodium
carboxymethylcellulose
Delivered by Publishing Technology to: Guest User
IP: 162.218.208.135 On:based
Shellac Tue, coating
14 Oct 2014 14:24:21
1. Shellac Copyright: American Scientific
EmCoat 120 N Publishers Enteric coating
2. Shellac MarCoat 125 Taste Masking, enteric coating
pH Independent polymer for rapidly disintegrating film coating
1. Neutral co-polymer Film coat E30D For film coating of tablets,
pellets, granules, powders.
Natural polymer
1. Xanthan gum Film coating of tablets
2. Pectin Film coating of tablets
3. Chitosan Film coating of tablets
4. Okra gum Film coating of tablets
5. Grewia gum Film coating of tablets

(stomach) but as the pH rises towards neutrality in upper
part of the small intestine the coating gradually dissolves.
Example: Eudragit.
(b) Phthalate esters. These polymers contain free car-
boxylic acid, making them acid insoluble however in intes-
tine they become deprotonated and dissolves in basic
media. They are also called enteric coating polymers e.g.,
Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP). Enteric coating poly-
mers can be classified into 3 groups based on chemical
compositions as listed below:
Polymethacrylates
• Methacrylic acid/ethyl acrylate
• Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP)
Cellulose esters
• Cellulose acetate trimellitate (CAT)
• Cellulose acetate succinate
• Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPM-
CAS)/hypromellose acetate succinate
• Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate.
Polyvinyl derivatives
• Polyvinyl acetate phthalate (PVAP).
The solubility of the polymers depend on the number
of carboxylic acid groups. Enteric formulations should
have less than 10% drug release in 2 hours during acid
stage. The completion of the drug release in the continu-
ation testing in the buffer stage should take place within
45 min. Classification of Polymers Based on Derivatives
(Lehmann, 1994; Libermen and Lachman, 2003; Malm

J. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. 1, 57–67, 2014 63

Film Coating Technology: Past, Present and Future
and Waring, 1937; Sadeghi et al., 2001; Ogaji and Nnoli,
2010; Ogaji and Hoag, 2011; Ogaji et al., 2013).
Plasticizers
Plasticizers are relatively low molecular weight materials
which are used as additives in pharmaceutical coating for-
mulations to reduce the brittleness and increase the flex-
ibility of the resulting film. They act by weakening inter
molecular attraction between polymer chains and facili-
tating coalescence of discrete polymer spheres of aque-
ous dispersed systems during film formation. Adhesive and
mechanical properties of the coating and subsequent drug
release are dependent on the concentration of plasticizers
to a great extent. Plasticizers are non volatile components
and therefore are responsible for the weight gain of dosage
forms during coating. A plasticizer has to be miscible and
fulfil all the compatibility parameters with the polymer
being used.
An important consideration is the content of plasticizer
as it can affect the glass transition temperature (Tg ) so
it should be experimentally determined by evaluating the
changes in Tg of polymer as the plasticizer content is
increased. Tg is the temperature for amorphous polymers
at which the behaviour of the film changes from hard and
brittle to soft and elastic. An effective plasticizing agent
is one which exhibits a greater decrease in the Tg of the
film. Changes in the mechanical Delivered
propertiesbyofPublishing
the poly- Technology
meric film are an indication ofIP: 162.218.208.135
plasticizer On: Tue,
efficacy (Seitz
Copyright: American Scientific Publishers
et al., 1988; Wu and McGinity, 2001).
Plasticizers are classified into three groups:
(i) Polyols type e.g., glycerol, propylene glycol, PEG
(Polyethylene glycol).
(ii) Organic esters e.g., phthalate esters, citrate esters, tri-
acetin, dibutyl sebacete.
(iii) Oils/glycerides e.g., castor oil, monoglycerides,
acetylated, coconut oil, fractionated.
Anti-Adherents
Anti-adherents are used as additives to avoid agglomera-
tion of the substrates during both the coating process and
on subsequent storage. One of the most common anti-
adherents used in pharmaceutical coatings is talc, but since
it has to be used at high concentration, it creates pro-
cessing challenges, including clogging of the spray noz-
zle during coating and particle sedimentation. It tends to
decrease water vapour permeability and also the dissolu-
tion rate of drugs due to its hydrophobic nature. It also
affects the mechanical and adhesive properties of polymer
films so now Glyceryl monostearate has been found as an
alternative to talc.
Opacifying Agents/Colorants
Pigments deliver elegance and stability enhancement to
the solid dosage form. Water-insoluble lakes and the iron
64
Gaur et al.
oxides are most commonly used pigments. Colour migra-
tion and stability issues have diminished the use of the
water-soluble dyes in film coating. Pigments can signifi-
cantly affect the mechanical and permeability properties of
the film. An inverse relation-ship between film-tablet adhe-
sion and the particle size of the pigment has been reported.
Studies have shown that the shape of the pigment par-
ticle and the extent of polymer-particle interaction influ-
ence the elastic modulus of polymeric films and surface
polarity of pigments influences drug release. In addition
chemical incompatibilities between the pigment and the
polymer have also been reported, predominantly related
to the size and surface charge of the components and
the pH of the medium. One important concept relevant
to pigments is the critical pigment volume concentration
(CPVC); this is the maximum concentration (based on vol-
ume) of the insoluble material that can be incorporated into
a film without compromising film properties. If the CPVC
is exceeded, insufficient polymer is present to surround
all the insoluble particles, resulting in marked changes in
different properties of the film. Colorants are mainly clas-
sified in to three types:
(i) Organic dyes and their lakes e.g., Erythrosine, tar-
trazine, Sunset yellow.
(ii) Inorganic colours e.g., Iron oxide yellow, red and
black, titanium dioxide, talc.
to: Guest
(iii) Natural coloursUser
e.g., Riboflavin, Anthocyanins, and
14 Oct 2014 14:24:21
Carmine.
Solvents/Vehicles
The key function of a solvent system is to dissolve or
disperse the polymers and other additives.
The major classes of solvents being used are aqueous
(Water) and Nonaqueous (Alcohols, Ketones, Esters, Chlo-
rinated hydrocarbons). Because of environmental and eco-
nomic concerns, water is the most commonly used solvent.
Miscellaneous Coating Solution Components
Solid dosage form may be incorporated with several spe-
cial materials such as:
Flavours and sweeteners are added to mask unpleasant
odours or to develop the taste. e.g., fruit spirits (organic
solvent), aspartame, water soluble pineapple flavour.
Surfactants are ancillary to stabilize immiscible or insol-
uble ingredients in the coating. They facilitate substrate
wettability and promote coalescence of polymeric material
over the substrate’s surface e.g., Spans, Tweens etc.
Antioxidants are incorporated to stabilize a dye system
to oxidation and colour change e.g., oximes, phenols etc.
Antimicrobials are added to inhibit microbial growth
in the coating composition. Various cellulosic materials
are mainly prone to microbial growth and they can not
be stored in solution form e.g., Carbamates, alkylisothia-
zloinone, benzothiazoles etc.
J. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. 1, 57–67, 2014
Gaur et al.
CURRENT TRENDS IN FILM COATING AND
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Opadry formulations provided numerous advantages ver-
sus the use of individual raw materials including the
reduction of the number of raw materials for Quality
control testing, reduced preparation time, reliable colour-
matched formulations, tremendous appearance and excel-
lent mechanical parameters. However, opadry dispersion
solids must be stored as 10–15% w/w aqueous solution to
attain workable 300–600 centipoises viscosity.
Opadry II category consisting HPMC and polysaccha-
rides was introduced to increase productivity. The most
significant recent advances in the development of fully for-
mulated aqueous film coatings have been the introduction
of new film coatings based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC). PVA-based
films are known to have relatively low permeability for
moisture vapour and oxygen whereas NaCMC-based coat-
ings are glossy and have low oxygen permeability and
relatively high permeability for water vapour.
Opadry aqueous moisture barrier (AMB) and Opadry II
85 series are two proprietary families of PVA-based prod-
ucts that were commercialized in the mid to-late 1990s.
The Opadry AMB formulation were optimized to provide
the lowest moisture vapour transmission rate. Opadry II
85 products give moisture vapour transmission rate almost
as low as Opadry AMB but can be applied at
Delivered bysignificantly
Publishing Technology to: Guest User
higher spray rates. IP: 162.218.208.135 On: Tue,
Film coatings based on PVA and NaCMC Copyright:
offerAmerican
various Scientific Publishers
advantages. Now, moisture-sensitive drugs can be coated
in an aqueous coating process by PVA-based coatings.
NaCMC based coatings provide demonstrable oxygen
barrier properties and excellent aesthetic characteristics
(Porter and Felton, 2010).
Supercell™ Coating Technology
The “standard” practice of tablet coating often delivers a
non-homogenous product. Because the tablets are loaded
in large rotating pans and vented for hot air drying, edges
of tablets can get grounded off and intagliation can get
filled in by coating material leading to uneven coating on
edges/corners and tablet faces. This inaccuracy limits the
use of modified release coatings. In a laboratory, it is nec-
essary to coat several kilograms of tablets at one time,
making R&D of a tablet dosage form costly and difficult.
Further extremely hygroscopic as well as flat or other
oddly shaped tablets cannot be coated using present tech-
nology so SCT (Niro Pharma Systems) technology uses a
small, modular design that accurately deposits controlled
amounts of coating materials on friable and extremely
hygroscopic tablets. SCT’s continuous small-batch capable
coating process is predictable and efficient. In SCT, the
tablets are coated in batches ranging from 30 to 120 grams,
which linearly scale up to production capacity. In this tech-
nique, the tablets are covered with the polymer spray in
J. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. 1, 57–67, 2014
Film Coating Technology: Past, Present and Future
the same direction as the hot air resulting in an efficient
process. Due to SCT’s unique air distribution plate design,
the tablets move very quickly and predictably through the
spray zone, receiving only a small amount of coating per
pass, and therefore achieving higher coating accuracy. The
process time is short, in seconds or in minutes as opposed
to hours, and therefore gentler on the tablets (Systems,
2012).
Supercell™ Coating Technology may also be used for
coating of flat or highly oblong tablets or friable tablets.
In this process, drying is very fast, making it possible to
coat extremely hygroscopic tablets. The deposition accu-
racy is sufficiently high to layer API onto tablets, and uni-
form layers of taste masking or modified release coatings
can be applied consecutively within a single continuous
batch.
Unique features of super cell coating technology are:
(1) Continuous coating
(2) Short processing time
(3) Flexible modular design
(4) No scale-up to parameters
(5) Batch size for R&D (Minimum size ∼ 30 grams)
(6) Enhancing technology
(7) Multi-layer coating
(8) Low humidity process suitable for moisture sensitive
materials.
14 Oct
Syloid ® 2014 14:24:21
FP Silicas in
Pharmaceutical Film Coatings
Recently, film coatings have also shown encouraging
results to enable the oral delivery of peptide therapeutics.
Syloid® FP silicas have been used as excipients in many
pharmaceutical formulations due to their unique morphol-
ogy. The combined adsorption capacity, porosity, particle
size and greater surface area allow them to provide several
benefits simultaneously which can expedite manufacturing
and improve efficacy of the final dosage form. Syloid® FP
silica can be used in polymeric coating systems in combi-
nation of vinyl/cellulose or acrylic polymers (13 Septem-
ber 2010).
In standard concentrations—Addition of Syloid® 244FP
silica to film coating provides following advantages-
Improved spray properties
Elimination of the need for talc
Improvement of suspension properties
Prevention of valve clogging
Minimal settling in spray lines
Smoothen tablet surface
Reduction of adhesion.
Applications: Anti-tacking agent, Oral peptide delivery,
ODT formulations, Enteric coatings, Sustained release
coatings, Controlled release coatings (Grace Discovery).
In recent years, there has been a growing focus on
conducting fundamental studies, through the application
of appropriate modelling techniques and novel analytical
65
Film Coating Technology: Past, Present and Future
technologies. In addition, recent trends are directed toward
improvements in processing as well as development of
novel release functionality. The following section provides
a review to some of these areas.
PROCESS MODELLING SYSTEMS AND
THEIR APPLICATIONS
Film coating process comprises various steps which can
be direct or indirect. Direct parameters include air pres-
sure and flow, temperature of coating spray and tablet
core and spray rate. The indirect parameters take account
of droplet size distribution and viscosity, coating unifor-
mity and thickness. So, different modelling systems have
been proposed e.g., Digital video imaging, Discrete ele-
ment methodologies (DEM), Computational fluid dynam-
ics (CFD).
Discrete element method embodies different techniques
implying on a large number of small particles to figure out
the movement and their interaction. In film coating pro-
cedure, DEM is used for estimating movement of tablets
and predicting the coating uniformity. Computational fluid
dynamics applies the principles of fluid mechanics for film
coating process (Felton and Porter, 2013; Felton, 2007).
The major application of process analytical technique is
that it is amenable to automation. So it can be applied for
monitoring and controlling various unit operations. It can
Delivered
be applied for product moisture content, by Publishing
amount of coating Technology
IP: 162.218.208.135 On: Tue,
applied, endpoint of the process and properties
Copyright:ofAmerican
coating Scientific
e.g., porosity and density.
However adaptation of PAT for coating process requires
positioning of sensors in unsuitable conditions which
can have a bearing on sensor sensitivity. So various
sophisticated analytical processes e.g., terahertz refractive
index (TRI) and pulse imaging (TPI), near-infrared and
raman spectroscopy (NIR), laser-induced breakdown spec-
troscopy (LIBS) and confocal laser techniques can be
applied offline. All of these techniques can also be used
online since these are non-destructive except LIBS.
NIR methods can be employed for determining the coat-
ing amount to predict drug release rate in combination
with multivariate analysis. NIR spectroscopy can be used
to estimate an API in a coated tablet with ± 4% target
value in comparison to HPLC. Major advantage of NIR
spectroscopy is its non-invasiveness and rapidity. However
it cannot be used with drugs in hydrate form. Raman spec-
troscopy is less sensitive to hydrates. TPI technique can be
used to determine the amount of coating in a side-vented
pan (Felton, 2007; Felton and Porter, 2013).
CONCLUSION
Based on the facts regarding film coating process, we can
emphasize that various recent trends may drive the indus-
try closer to large scale adoption of dry powder coating
technologies for oral delivery. First, the current changes
66
Gaur et al.
in global austerity have pushed many pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies to seriously examine manufac-
turing costs. The lower cost associated with dry powder
coating technology makes it attractive for both brand and
generic companies seeking to reduce operating expenses.
Another major driver in the future will be the needs of
advanced drug products specifically focused in the area of
counterfeit resistance and amorphous formulation support.
Counterfeit drugs are a major problem facing global phar-
maceutical companies, with steps being taken to protect
the supply chain and also develop visually differentiated
products. Dry powder coating, particularly electrostatic dry
powder coating, can be used to prepare novel identification
marks onto drug products in a rapid cost effective manner
leading to enhanced brand identification.
Beyond this, the potential to eliminate the need for sol-
vents allows for more effective application of coatings to
moisture sensitive products. This opens up unique oppor-
tunities in the drug product design of amorphous systems
and may potentially play a role in future product designs.
Given the potential of the technology, academic research
will continue in earnest as the pharmaceutical industry
continues the adoption of the technology. Over time and
driven by a number of different factors, dry powder coating
appears poised to become a major pharmaceutical coating
technology in the future.
to: Guest User
Acknowledgment:
14 Oct 2014 14:24:21 The authors wish to express the
gratitudePublishers
towards administrative authorities at ITS
Paramedical (Pharmacy) College, Muradnagar, Ghaziabad
for providing necessary support during collection of data.
REFERENCES
Aulton, M. (ed.), (1995). Mechanical properties of film coats, Tay-
lor&Francis, London.
Bodmeier, R. and Paeratakul, O. (1994). Mechanical properties of dry and
wet cellulosic and acrylic films prepared from aqueous colloidal polymer
dispersions used in the coating of solid dosage forms. Pharmaceutical
Research 11, 882–88.
Chen, W, Chang, S.-Y., Kiang, S., Early, W., Paruchuri, S., and Desai,
D. (2008). The measurement of spray quality for pan coating process.
J. Pharm. Innov. 3, 3–14.
Chen, W., Chang, S. Y., Kiang, S., Marchut, A., Lynberg, O., Wang, J.,
Rao, V., Desai, D., Stamato, H., and Early, W. (2010). Modeling of pan
coating process: Prediction of tablet content uniformity and determination
of critical process parameters. J. Pharm. Sci. 99, 3213–24.
Cole, G. (1998). Pharmaceutical Coating Technology, Taylor and Francis,
London.
Dillon, R. E., Matheson, L. A. and Bradford, E. B. (1951). Sintering of
synthetic latex particles. Journal of Colloid Science 6, 108–17.
Felton, L. A. (2007). Characterization of coating systems. AAPS Pharm.
Sci. Tech. 8, 112.
Felton, L. A. and Porter, S. C. (2013). An update on pharmaceutical film
coating for drug delivery. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery 10, 421–35.
Franz, R. and Doonan, G. (1983). Measuring the surface temperature of
tablet beds using infrared thermometry. Pharm. Technol. 7, 55–67.
J. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. 1, 57–67, 2014
 Gaur et al.
Harris, M. R. and Sellassie, G. (eds.), (1997). Aqueous Polymeric Coat-
ing for Modified Release Oral Dosage forms, Marcel Dekker Inc., Ney
York.
Hogan, J. (1998). Pharmaceutical Coating Technology, Taylor and Francis
Ltd., London.
Lachman, L., Lieberman, H. A., and Joseph, L. K. (1989). The Theory
and Practice of Industrial Pharmacy vol. 3 Varghese Publishing House,
Mumbai.
Lehmann, K. (ed.), (1994). Coating of multiparticulates using polymeric
solutions: Formulation and process considerations, Marcel Dekker, Inc.,
New York.
Libermen, H. and Lachman, L. (2003). Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms:
Tablets, Marcel Dekker Inc., N.Y, Vols. 1–3.
Lipper, R. D., Desai, D., and Kiang, S. (September 11–12, 2006). Case
Study: Implementation of Design Space Concepts in Development of an
Active-Coated Tablet In: Real World Applications of PAT and QbD in
Drug Process Development and Approval, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma-
ceutical Research Institute, Arlington, Virginia, USA.
Lippold, B. C. and Monells, P. P. (2001). Film formation, reproducibility
of production and curing with respect to release stability of functional
coatings from aqueous polymer dispersions. Pharmazie 56, 5–17.
Malm, C. J. and Waring C. E. (1937). Cellulose esters containing dicar-
boxylic acid groups and process of making the same.
Mazer, T. B., Meyer, G. A., Hwang, S. M., Candler, E. L., Drayer, L.
R., and Daab-Krzykowski, A. (1992). System for delivering an active
substance for sustained release.
Narang, A. K. M., Castoro, J., Varia, S., and Desai, D. (2011). Effect of
Pro- and Anti-Oxidants on the Formation of Formyl Species in PVA- and
PEG-Based Tablet Coating Material, AAPS, Washington,
Delivered by D. C., USA.
Publishing
Narang, A. S., Desai, D., and Badawy,IP: 162.218.208.135
S. (2012). On: Tue,
Impact of excipient
Copyright:
interactions on solid dosage form stability. Pharm. American Scientific
Res. 29, 2660–83.
Ogaji, I. and Nnoli, O. (2010). Film coating potential of okra gum using
paracetamol tablets as a model drug. Asian J. Pharm. 4, 130–34.
Ogaji, I. J. and Hoag, S. W. (2011). Effect of grewia gum as a suspend-
ing agent on ibuprofen pediatric formulation. AAPS PharmSciTech. 12,
507–13.
Ogaji, I. J., Okafor, I. S., and Hoag, S. W. (2013). Grewia gum as a poten-
tial aqueous film coating agent. I: Some physicochemical characteristics
of fractions of grewia gum. J. Pharm. Bioall Sci. 5, 53–60.
Okutgen, E., Jordan, M., Hogan, J. E., and Aulton, M. E., (1991). Effects
of tablet core dimensional instability on the generation of internal stresses
J. Pharm. Sci. Pharmacol. 1, 57–67, 2014
View publication stats
Film Coating Technology: Past, Present and Future
within film coats part II: Temperature and relative humidity variation
within a tablet bed during aqueous film coating in an accela-cota. Drug
Development and Industrial Pharmacy 17, 1191–99.
Opadry® Complete Film Coating System. Coating Parameters–
Aqueous Formulas, Colorcon, Inc., North America, BPSI Holdings,
LLC.
Porter, C. (1990). Coating of Pharmaceutical Solid Dosage Forms, Mack
Publishing Company, Easton, Pennsylvania.
Porter, S. C. (ed.), (2011). Scale-Up of Film Coating, Informa Healthcare,
New York.
Porter, S. C. and Felton, L. A. (2010). Techniques to assess film coat-
ings and evaluate film-coated products. Drug Development and Industrial
Pharmacy 36, 128–42.
Rekhi, G. S., Porter, S. C., and Jambhekar, S. S. (1995). Factors affecting
the release of propranolol hydrochloride from beads coated with aque-
ous polymeric dispresions. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy
21, 709–29.
Sadeghi, F., Ford, J. L., Rubinstein, M., and Rajabi-Siahboomi, A. R.
(2001). Study of drug release from pellets coated with surelease con-
taining hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. Drug Development and Industrial
Pharmacy 27, 419–30.
Savage, G. V. and Rhodes, C. T. (1995). The sustained release coating of
solid dosage forms: A historical review. Drug Development and Indus-
trial Pharmacy 21, 93–118.
Seitz, J. A., Swarbrick, J., and Boylan, J. C. (1988). Aqueous film coat-
ing, Encyclopedia of Pharmaceutical Technology, Marcel Dekker, New
York, pp. 337–49.
Singh, P., Solanky, T. K., Mudryya, R., Pfefferc, R. and Davea, R. (2001).
Technology
Estimation ofto: Guest
coating timeUser
in the magnetically assisted impaction coating
14 Oct
process. 2014
Powder 14:24:21
Technology 121, 159–67.
® Publishers
Syloid FP silica excipients—more than just Silica. (Belgium Fred Mon-
suur, Grace Davison Discovery Sciences) (13 September 2010).
Systems GNP. (2012). SUPERCELL™ Tablet Coating Technology (SCT).
Niro Inc. 9165 Rumsey Road Columbia, MD 21045 USA.
Wu, C. and McGinity, J. W. (2001). Influence of Ibuprofen as a solid-
state plasticizer in Eudragit RS 30D on the physicochemical properties
of coated beads. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2, 1–9.
Zheng, W. and McGinity, J. W. (2003). Influence of Eudragit NE 30 D
blended with Eudragit L 30 D-55 on the release of phenylpropanolamine
hydrochloride from coated pellets. Drug Development and Industrial
Pharmacy 29, 357–66.
67