Enteric Coating Of Tablets

Enteric Coating of Tablets

Introduction

Enteric coating is the process in which tablets are coated with a solution that helps to prevent tablet disintegration in the stomach. The method is widely applied in the field of pharmacy, and appropriate knowledge regarding the undertaken measures and the choice of ingredients used is necessary. This document explains the process of enteric coating and indicates some important polymers used in the process.

Discussion

Identification of the Technique

Enteric coating refers to the mechanism through which medicines are coated with a specialized coating that inhibits their disintegration in the stomach.

Identify of Purpose

The environment of the stomach is acidic in nature, and many drug products are intended to be released in the alkaline medium of the intestine. These tablets undergo enteric coating, which releases the drug contents after the tablet passes the stomach ad enters in the intestine.

Figure 1: Enteric coated and non coated tablets [www.google.as]

The goal of utilizing enteric coated tablets varies. Some drug products need primary conditions for their action and absorption. Such drugs can be enteric coated before taking them through oral route. Another significant idea behind this coating is that some drug products might cause irritation in the stomach walls. An important example taken in this regard is of aspirin (Walker, Robinson, 2007). Such drug products are also enetrically coated before administration.

Process of Enteric Coating

The process of enteric coating can be divided into following steps

Selection and making of coating material

Subcoating

Enteric Coating

Coloring and polishing

Selection and Making of Coating Material

Selection of precoating material is crucial in the enteric coating process. The coating material is the polymer that is resistant to acidic at the pH range of 1.5 to 2.5. This coating material should be able to protect the internal drug product and should not affect the activity of the API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient). The ...