Category: Excipients

First introduced as a pharmaceutical excipient in the 1960s, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) has become one of the most widely used inactive ingredients in modern medicine due to its multifunctional properties. This white, inert powder is derived from purified wood pulp and is a staple in the manufacturing of tablets, capsules, and other solid dosage forms. The primary purpose of microcrystalline cellulose is to ensure that medications are effective, stable, and easy to manufacture.

As a common, FDA-approved inactive ingredient in many medications, crospovidone plays a crucial and benign role in ensuring oral drugs work as intended. Its primary function is to help tablets and capsules break down quickly in the stomach, releasing the active drug for absorption.

Povidone, also known as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), is a synthetic polymer found in approximately 20% of all pharmaceutical tablets on the market. This multifunctional excipient is critical for transforming active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and other components into stable, effective, and consumer-friendly solid dosage forms. The answer to "Why is povidone used in tablets?" lies in its versatile properties that support structural integrity, drug release, and overall product quality.

For over 60 years, Avicel®, a form of microcrystalline cellulose, has been an indispensable tool in the pharmaceutical industry due to its superior binding and compression properties. So, what is Avicel? It is a key excipient derived from wood pulp, used extensively in the manufacturing of solid oral dosage forms like tablets and capsules.

Did you know that hypromellose, a semi-synthetic polymer derived from natural cellulose, is a key ingredient in everything from artificial tears to controlled-release tablets? The answer to **how does hypromellose work** lies in its unique physical properties, which allow it to act as a lubricant in one context and a time-release agent in another.

Successfully used for over 75 years, Methocel™ is a family of plant-based cellulose ethers that function as versatile excipients in pharmaceutical formulations [1.4.3]. So, what is Methocel and how does it work?

As a common, FDA-approved inactive ingredient in the pharmaceutical industry, Crospovidone is a crucial component in the formulation of many oral medications, such as tablets and capsules. Its main function is to facilitate the rapid and efficient disintegration of solid dosage forms, ensuring that the active drug is quickly released for absorption by the body. This synthetic polymer is a workhorse in modern drug development due to its unique properties.

With a history stretching back to ancient Egyptian remedies, gum arabic, the key component of gum syrup, is a versatile exudate from acacia trees. In modern contexts, understanding what does gum syrup do requires distinguishing its culinary use from the highly functional pharmaceutical role of its core ingredient, acacia gum.

Over 90% of pharmaceutical tablets and capsules contain the inactive ingredient magnesium stearate, making a stearate tablet exceptionally common in medication. This fine, white powder is not an active drug but is crucial for the efficient manufacturing and consistent quality of many oral medications.