PHARMA PULSE ARBOCEL® - Plantderivedfunctionalfiller

Cellulose, a natural polymer found abundantly in plant cell walls, has found diverse applications across various industries. In pharmaceuticals, powdered cellulose has emerged as a versatile and essential ingredient, revolutionising drug formulations and manufacturing processes. This article explores the various properties of ARBOCEL® (Powdered cellulose, Ph Eur / NF / JP/ E460 (ii) / FCC), offered by JRS Pharma in the pharmaceutical industry and highlights its key benefits and applications.

Manufacturing process

ARBOCEL® is manufactured by the purification and mechanical size reduction of acellulose obtained as a pulp from fibrous plant materials. [3]

Biocompatibility

ARBOCEL® is considered as safe and biocompatible, making it an ideal choice for pharmaceutical applications. It is non-toxic and does not interact with the body's physiological processes, ensuring patient safety. Powdered cellulose is widely used in oral pharmaceutical formulations and food products and is regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritant material. It is not absorbed systemically following oral administration and thus has little toxic potential. [3]

Chemically inert

ARBOCEL® is chemically inert and hence is not metabolized by the human body. As ARBOCEL® is not digested, it has no functional caloric value.[3]

Low moisture absorption

In the dry form, it absorbs lesser amount of moisture, when compared to other diluents. This low moisture absorption assures better shelf life, especially with moisture sensitive active ingredients in pharmaceuticals. [3]

Versatility

ARBOCEL® fibers come in different forms, including fine powders and granules, making them versatile for use in diverse manufacturing processes and products. It finds applications in a wide array of industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and industrial manufacturing. [3]

Eco-friendly and sustainable

One of the appealing aspects of ARBOCEL® is its eco-friendliness. Being sourced from renewable plant-based materials, it reduces the carbon footprint and contributes to a more sustainable future. Moreover, its biodegradability ensures that it will not linger in the environment for extended periods, fur- good binding properties, ARBOCEL® grades are used as fillers in oral formulations like tablets and capsules. Due to finer particle size, ARBOCEL® M80 and ARBOCEL® P290 are suitable for wet / dry granulations, while ARBOCEL® P290 and ARBOCEL® A300 can be used in dry mixing and extragranular applications because of improved flow characteristics. Excellent flow and low dusting improves handling and weight uniformity in capsule formulations. It can also be used as a filler in sachet formulations and dry syrups. It is commonly used as an alternative to lactose, when the target population is lactose-intolerant patients. [1][3]

Famotidine dry suspension is one of such formulation.[6]

◆ Food applications: Powdered cellulose is also widely used in food products in various applications. Its ability to absorb moisture and coat ingredients in a fine powder makes it the perfect additive for anti-caking applications. Shredded and grated cheeses, powdered drink mixes and spice mixes are some of the examples.

Because cellulose binds and mixes easily with water, it is often added to increase the fibre content of drinks and other liquid items when the gritty texture of regular fibre would be undesirable.

Typical properties and benefits

Natural

◆ Extracted from wood source / No animal origin /

Vegan

◆ During manufacturing process, no organic solvent is used

◆ No allergens

◆ Biodegradable

◆ Clean label-friendly

◆ Recognized as GRAS [1][3]

Swelling properties ther reducing its impact on the planet.

Another notable feature of ARBOCEL® is its impressive absorbent capabilities. In the food and cosmetic sectors, it can be used in products like animal feed and facial masks, thanks to its ability to absorb liquids effectively. This property makes it an asset in various personal care and food applications.

Physical parameters

ARBOCEL® is available in various grades, bifurcated based on PSD and other physical attributes [3]

Applications

◆ Filler/Diluent: Because of their fibrous structure and

◆ Oily suspension: Due to its fine PSD and higher surface area, ARBOCEL® M80 may be used to reduce the sedimentation rate of oily suspension. This property can be explored to decrease the sedimentation in oily fills in soft-gel capsules and in oil based oral suspensions as well. It may also be used as suspending agent during the processing of suppositories. [1]

◆ Aqueous suspension: It is also used as a suspending agent in aqueous suspensions for oral delivery. It helps to form flocculated suspension which is easily re-dispersed upon shaking. [1] Amongst the grades, ARBOCEL® M80 is most suitable due to its fine PSD and higher surface area.

Cellulose has become a popular bulking agent in diet foods. Because it is indigestible to humans, it has no caloric value. Eating foods with high cellulose content allows dieters to feel full without consuming too many calories.[2]

◆ Animal food: ARBOCEL® is used as a part of food for livestock and other pet animals to improve digestion and gut health.

Summary

ARBOCEL® is a highly versatile and eco-friendly material that offers numerous benefits across various industries. Its sustainable nature, coupled with its ability to enhance product quality and safety, makes it an attractive choice for manufacturers and consumers alike. As a renewable resource, ARBOCEL® presents a promising solution to reduce environmental impact and promote a more sustainable future.

References

[1] Sheskey P.J., Cook W.G., Cable C.G. (2017) Handbook of Phar- maceutical Excipients, 8th edition, Pharmaceutical Press, 201203.

[2] How Cellulose Is Used in Food (thespruceeats.com)

(https://www.thespruceeats.com

/what-is-cellulose-1328464)

[3] Arbocel_GB (jrspharma.com)

(https://www.jrspharma.com/ph arma- wAssets/docs/brochures/br-arbocel.pdf)

[4] JRS Pharma Media Library

(https://www.jrspharma.com/ph arma_en/media-library/)

[5] United States Pharmacopoeia, USP 43-NF 38 (2019).

[6] DailyMed (nih.gov) (https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/d ailymed/)

Author Krishnakumar Patel Technical Services – Pharma JRS Pharma, India Krishna.Patel@jrsindia.com