oral solid dosage form
prescriptions for successful solutions
Our knowledge of the structure-function relationships of pharmaceutical polymers, combined with our extensive product line can help you bind, coat, dissolve, and effectively deliver complex drug molecules where and when they're needed.
Our solutions include:
- Increasing the solubility of active pharmaceutical ingredients
- Designing modified-release products to meet targeted release profiles
- Minimizing tablet size while maintaining drug load
- Improving disintegration time of orally disintegrating tablets
- Overcoming challenges of continuous manufacturing technology
Our experts around the world can also provide:
- formulation and process development for solid dispersion technologies (hot melt extrusion and spray drying);
- granulation technologies (fluid bed, high shear, hot-melt extrusion)
- controlled-release technologies (release-profile prediction and simulation, melt extrusion, particle and pellet coating, drug layering, matrix tablets)
- compaction simulation
- coating and stability studies
Ongoing research provides a foundation for advanced technical solutions to address formulation and manufacturing challenges. Ashland provides formulators with unique opportunities for research and development collaboration.
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Learn more about our solutions
aqualon™ ethylcellulose
Aqualon™ ethylcellulose (EC) is a cellulose ether distinguished by its versatility.
aquarius™ film coating systems
Pharmaceutical tablet film coatings are thin layers applied to the tablet’s surface of tablets, providing various functional or aesthetic advantages. These coatings can be customized to achieve specific properties, depending on formulation requirements. Uses for film coatings systems include: controlled or modified release enhanced stability easier swallowing improved appearance masking taste and odor identification and branding process ef...
Benecel™ methylcellulose and hypromellose
beyond thickening Thickener choices can not only impact formulation viscosity but sensorial aspects too. Multifunctional benecel™ hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) products are nature-derived rheology modifiers that enhance the sensory experience. Benecel™ hpmc is available in a wide range of grades to suit all your thickening challenges. Derived from cellulose, a natural, abundant and renewable resource, benecel™ h...
Blanose™ sodium carboxymethylcellulose
Blanose™ sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is made by reacting sodium monochloroacetate with alkalicellulose under rigidly controlled conditions. The resultant anionic polymer is purified and dried. Purified CMC for personal care and cosmetic applications is typically sold at 99.5 percent minimum purity. In addition to thickening aqueous systems, CMC is used in personal care products for water binding, syneresis control and its abil...
CAVAMAX™ native cyclodextrins
The molecular structure of cyclodextrins creates a bucket-like cavity that can complex with molecules or functional groups on molecules to improve solubility of poorly soluble compounds. The same mechanism makes these excipients capable of masking unpleasant taste/odor and stabilizing drugs that are prone to degradation. The number of glucose units in the ring determines the internal diameter of the cavity and its volume, as the height of the cyc...
klucel™ hydroxypropylcellulose
Klucel™ hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) is a nonionic water-soluble cellulose ether with a remarkable combination of properties. It combines organic solvent solubility, thermoplasticity and surface activity with the aqueous thickening and stabilizing properties characteristic of other water-soluble cellulose polymers available from Ashland. Klucel™ HPC films are flexible without plasticizers and non-tacky at high humidity.
natrosol™ hydroxyethylcellulose
nature-derived, efficient thickening Nature-derived from sustainably sourced cellulose, natrosol™ hec products are water-soluble, non-ionic polymers that can be used in a variety of personal and home care applications. These efficient thickeners perform across a wide pH range and demonstrate high salt tolerance and broad surfactant compatibility, enabling clear formulations. The wood pulp used in our cellulose products is sourced from ...
aqualon™ sodium carboxymethylcellulose
Aqualon™ sodium carboxymethylcellulose (cmc) is made by reacting sodium monochloroacetate with alkalicellulose under rigidly controlled conditions. The resultant anionic polymer is purified and dried. Purified cmc for personal care and cosmetic applications is typically sold at 99.5 percent minimum purity. In addition to thickening aqueous systems, cmc is used in personal care products for water binding, syneresis control and its ability to...
plasdone™ povidone
Ashland offers a comprehensive range of Plasdone povidones (PVP). Plasdone povidones are a family of water-soluble polymers based on N-vinylpyrrolidone that combine a unique set of properties for application in a wide variety of dosage forms. Plasdone povidones are commonly used as binders for the development of tablet formulations, whether manufactured by wet granulation, dry granulation or direct compression. Plasdone K polymers are used in sol...
plasdone™ s-630 and s-630 ultra copovidone
Plasdone™ S-630 copovidone is a 60:40 random, linear copolymer produced by the free radical polymerization of N-vinyl-2-pyrollidone and vinyl acetate. The pyrrolidone ring is responsible for excellent water solubility, adhesion, film forming and solubilization properties, while the vinyl acetate monomer reduces glass transition temperature (Tg) and hygroscopicity compared to homopolymers of pyrrolidone (PVP). Well-known in the industry...
polyplasdone™ crospovidone
Polyplasdone™ crospovidone superdisintegrants are synthetic, insoluble, but rapidly swellable, crosslinked homopolymers of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone. Crospovidone provides rapid disintegration and dissolution to oral solid dosage forms. Polyplasdone crospovidone particles are granular and porous compared with other superdisintegrants. The high surface area combined with unique chemistry results in high interfacial activity that enhances the dis...
pharmasolve™ n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone
Pharmasolve™ N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is a versatile solubilizer for one-component systems. It is a water-miscible polar aprotic solvent with high interfacial activity. Pharmasolve™ NMP is manufactured in a facility with ISO 9001:2015 and EXCiPACT GMP certifications. It is used as a drug solubilizer and penetration enhancer in human and animal parenteral dosage forms.
cavitron™ hydroxypropyl-ß- cyclodextrins (HPBCD)
The molecular structure of cyclodextrins creates a bucket-like cavity that can function to complex with molecules or functional groups on molecules. The substitution of hydroxyl groups on native cyclodextrins to make hydroxypropyl-ß- cyclodextrins (HPBCD) significantly enhances their solubility and makes them more suitable for drug solubilization. This mechanism makes the Cavitron™ HPBCDs capable of masking unpleasant taste/odor and s...
aquarius™ preferred film coating systems
Aquarius™ preferred film coating systems disperse easily in water. These film coatings are applicable to both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical solid dosage forms. Ashland formulators have access to an unrivaled range of cellulosic and other polymeric excipients, enabling aquarius™ film coating systems to be tailored to meet exacting requirements. To maximize the efficiency of the coating application process, high-solids loadings are d...
aquarius™ control film coating systems
The aquarius™ control film coating systems consist of two types of coatings. Aquarius™ control ENA film coating systems are delayed-release (enteric) coatings that are designed to protect active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that degrade in gastric fluid, or to prevent the release of APIs that may irritate the gastric mucosa. Aquarius™ control SRX film coating systems are sustained-release coatings for APIs that are most eff...
aquarius™ prime film coating systems
Aquarius™ prime film coating systems disperse easily in water and are applied to immediate-release dosage forms. Film coatings for immediate-release tablet-coating applications are typically comprised of a polymer, a plasticizer and optional pigment/opacifier. Aquarius™ prime film coating systems are available in clear and white formulations off the shelf. Aquarius™ prime film coating systems can be matched to customers’ e...
aquarius™ protect film coating systems
Aquarius™ protect is a premium multi-functional barrier coating system to effectively reduce moisture uptake and mask against offensive taste and odor. For easier usability, aquarius™ protect is a fully formulated, ready-mixed coating that disperses quickly in water or solvent and is available in clear, white and color matched versions. Aquarius™ protect delivers superior barrier properties and efficient flexible processing, wit...
aquarius™ genesis film coating systems
who helps you get to the finish line faster?__we do.introducing aquarius™ genesis film coating systemAshland has a new, high-solids film-coating system for immediate-release applications. The Aquarius Genesis film coating is designed for application at up to 35% solids while producing films with outstanding strength, adhesion and smoothness. The pharmaceutical industry is moving from traditional batch manufacturing to continuous manufacturin...
benecel™ xr and xrf hpmc
NEW! Benecel™ XRF HPMC Benecel™ XRF HPMC is the latest addition to the benecel™ HPMC controlled release family. The XRF products are fine particle grades designed for optimal performance in large-scale, high speed tableting. applications wet granulation or direct compression multilayer tablets key features and benefits consistent particle size distribution and bulk density: consistent content uniformity and low tablet w...
aquarius™ TF film coating systems
Aquarius™ TF film coating systems provide superior opacity, brightness and aesthetics to tablets compared to other TF coatings. Recent safety concerns related to TiO2 have resulted in a need for safe and effective TiO2 free coatings. Aquarius™ TF film coating systems are formulated without the use of titanium dioxide as the opacifier filler. All-coatings are specifically designed to meet regulatory and application needs. feature...
klucel™ xtend hydroxypropylcellulose (hpc) controlled release matrix former
Ashland introduces Klucel™ xtend hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) controlled release matrix former, designed to deliver unsurpassed process versatility and release profile efficiency. It is the latest addition to our Klucel™ product line and further expands our controlled-release portfolio. Until now, there were limited options for managing the release profile of formulations, especially high dose, controlled release formulations. Ashlan...
klucel™ xtend hydroxypropylcellulose (hpc) controlled release matrix former
aquarius™ PVA film coating systems
Aquarius™ PVA film coating systems are designed for immediate-release dosage forms. Formulated for a wide variety of pharmaceutical and nutritional applications, aquarius™ PVA film coating systems offer performance characteristics that maximize product quality and enhance processing efficiency. To learn more, contact the film coating experts at Ashland or take a look at the literature on the right.