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    Cellets® Microcrystalline Cellulose Pellets: a safer and easier way to multiparticulate dosage forms

    products-servicesPharmatrans SANAQ AG
    September 15th 2022

    Pharmatrans Sanaq supplies Cellets® as a stand-alone brand for its highly optimized Microcrystalline Cellulose MCC Pellets used as an alternative to sugar pellets for retard formulations and innovative drug delivery.

    Cellets® have tangible advantages over sugar pellets in supporting dosage formulations optimized for homogeneous distribution and controlled release, as defined by the monographs of European and US pharmacopeias.

    What is microcrystalline cellulose?

    Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a naturally occurring polymer composed of linear cellulose chains of glucose units connected by a 1-4 beta glycosidic bond. These are naturally bundled together as microfibrils spirals in plant cell walls, meaning that MCC can be derived from refined wood pulp.

    Microcrystalline cellulose can also be synthesized from α-cellulose precursor, using processes such as reactive extrusion, enzyme mediated, mechanical grinding, ultrasonication, steam explosion and acid hydrolysis.

    Pharmatrans manufactures Cellets® under GMP conditions using MCC from certified suppliers only and can supply these innovative micropellets in various particle sizes from 100 µm to 500 µm.

    Cellets® applications

    MCC is used as a texturizer, an anti-caking agent, a fat substitute, an emulsifier, an extender, and a bulking agent. In the pharma industry, its most common use is to modify dosage delivery in tablets. In this application, properties such as particle size, density, compressibility index, angle of repose, powder porosity, hydration swelling capacity, moisture sorption capacity, moisture content, crystallinity index, crystallite size, and hardness and tensile strength mechanical properties become relevant.

    Approved within the European Union as a thickener, stabilizer or emulsifier, microcrystalline cellulose has E number E460(i), as compared with E460 basic cellulose. These forms have been defined by monographs for Microcrystalline Cellulose (Ph. Eur., USP-NF). DMF N° 18519 since July 15, 2005.

    Cellets® advantages

    Cellets® support the pioneering development of multiple dosage forms that deliver more reliable formulations thanks to the homogeneous concentration of highly active agents.

    Two fundamental advantages of the microcellulose MCC-based multiple dosage form are homogeneous distribution of the active ingredient and its controlled release.

    Compared with sugar pellets, MCC pellets have superior (smoother) surface and sphericity properties, making them a clear first choice for non-dissolving applications. Sugar pellets can be preferred where fast dissolution in water is desired.

    Cellets® deliver a persuasive range of user benefits:

    • Perfect tool for combinatory and controlled release products.
    • Wide range of particle size fractions with uniform spherical shape and structure.
    • Narrow particle size distribution within each fraction.
    • Formulation of sensitive actives due to the inertness of MCC.
    • High abrasion resistance for superior coating process
    • Excellent compactibility due to the high plasticity of the CELLETS® for formulation of multidosage tablets.
    • Higher payload permitting smaller capsule sizes.

    Resources

    Click on Cellets®: Pellets from microcrystalline cellulose for further information.
    Click on Pellet technologies to find out more.
    Click on Cellets® applications  for formulation case studies.
    Click on Some light on sugar and MCC Pellets  for scientific insights and comparisons.

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    Cellets® Microcrystalline Cellulose Pellets: a safer and easier way to multiparticulate dosage forms

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