Innovative Controlled Release Technology
Using the Wurster Fluid Bed Coating System in Pharmaceutical Coatings
Controlled release technology plays a pivotal role in the pharmaceutical industry, enabling precise modulation of drug release profiles to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. This blog delves into the intricacies of controlled release as it pertains to pharmaceutical coatings, with a particular focus on Coating Place, Inc.'s proprietary Oradel® platform.
Wurster Fluid Bed Coating: Precision and Efficiency
Pioneered by Dr. Dale Wurster and Coating Place, the 'Original Wurster Coating' technology source is renowned for its precision and efficiency in applying uniform coatings to particulate materials. This technique involves suspending particles in an upward flow of air and applying coating to the individual particles, resulting in consistent and reproducible coating layers. Linear scalable equipment and nozzles specifically designed for Wurster coating further enhance the adaptability and performance of this technology, allowing for consistent, high-quality coatings. Coating Place has refined this technology to create high-quality, uniformly distributed coatings, forming the foundation of the Oradel® platform.
Click here to learn more about our Wurster Fluid Bed Coating Technology.
Understanding Controlled Release Technology
Controlled release technology refers to formulations designed to release an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) at a predetermined rate, duration, and/or location within the body. This approach maintains optimal drug concentrations in the bloodstream, minimizes side effects, and reduces dosing frequency. By employing specific coating techniques using the Wurster fluid bed coating system, formulators can tailor the release profiles of medications to meet therapeutic objectives.
The Oradel® Platform: A Comprehensive Solution
Our Oradel® platform exemplifies innovation in oral delivery coating techniques. Leveraging nearly 50 years of experience, the platform offers customized solutions that deliver high-quality products. The Oradel® platform encompasses several key technologies:
Oradel®-MC (Multilayer Coating): Enables the application of multiple coating layers to an inert core, allowing for the combination of various APIs and release profiles within a single dosage form. Also provides taste masking coatings, which are essential for improving the palatability of oral medications, particularly those with bitter or unpleasant flavors.
Oradel®-XR (Extended Release): Facilitates a controlled release of the API over an extended period, ensuring sustained therapeutic levels. Can be released for a shorter amount of time such as 4-6 hours, or for a further extended period such as 8-10 hours
Oradel®-DR (Delayed Release): Delays the release of the API until the dose reaches a specific region of the gastrointestinal tract, such as the intestines, to mitigate degradation in the stomach acid or optimize therapeutic effects to allow for more precise targeting.
Oradel®-EC (Enteric Coating): Protects the API from the acidic environment of the stomach, ensuring release in the more neutral pH environment of the small intestine to prevent potential side effects like stomach irritation.
Click here to learn more about premature release of enteric coatings.
Oradel®-ION (Ion Resin Technology): Binds ionizable APIs to pharmaceutical ion-exchange resins, resulting in complexes that offer taste masking, improved bioavailability, stability, or controlled release properties in various dosage forms.
Click here to learn more about our Oradel® technology.
Coating chamber diagram of particles being coated with our Oradel® platform technologies.
Conclusion
Wurster fluid bed coating technology is highly efficient and versatile. The technology enhances pharmaceutical formulations by providing precise, uniform, and controlled drug release from the target dosage forms. The ability to apply functional coatings ensures improved drug stability, bioavailability, and patient compliance all while minimizing material waste, enhancing production scalability, and allowing for tailored drug delivery solutions that are cost-effective.