Liquid dosage forms

Bulk sweetening agents

Glucose syrups are aqueous solutions of α-D-glucose based natural sugars obtained by starch hydrolysis. They are widely used in the manufacture of sucrose-based medical syrups. These syrups often contain high amounts of sucrose and have the tendency to crystallize over time. The shelf-life of medicated syrups can be improved dramatically by adding glucose syrup, as the polysaccharide portion of the glucose syrup acts as an anti-crystallizing agent. They also provide extra viscosity for liquid preparations.

We manufacture glucose syrups for liquid formulations under the name C* PharmSweet™, a clear and colorless glucose syrup of medium viscosity with a moderate relative sweetness and neutral taste. It provides a good workability during production and controls crystallization resulting in transparent products with the right texture and shelf-life.
 

Sugar-free bulk sweetening agents

Liquid sorbitol and liquid maltitol are syrups obtained by the hydrogenation of glucose or glucose syrups with high maltose content.

We manufacture these agents under the names C* PharmMaltidex™ and C* PharmSorbidex™, drawing upon a worldwide supply chain of raw materials that enables production to be reliably maintained. They are used in the formulation of sugar-free medical syrups.

Sorbitol liquid is useful as a bulking agent with stabilizing properties, while maltitol syrups are well suited for the production of cough syrups and linctuses where their clean sweet taste and non-cariogenicity are particularly useful. Maltitol syrups are extremely stable against crystallization - so the caps on bottles containing syrups and oral solutions, do not get stuck because of crystal formation.

Most polyols are non-cariogenic, meaning that they do not promote tooth decay. This is because polyols cannot be metabolized by the Streptococci bacteria in the mouth. This makes them an ideal substitute for sugar and glucose syrup and the sweetener of choice in modern medical syrup formulations, especially in childcare.

Emulsifying and refattening agents for ointments

Due to their amphiphilic molecular structure, lecithins and phospholipids are ideal substances to be used as emulsifiers or co-emulsifiers in topical medication. They are the “emulsifiers nature created for itself”. In an ointment, lecithins and phospholipids have a refattening effect on the skin. For active ingredients they can act as a penetration improver.

Emulsifying and suspending aids

Many liquid formulations are emulsions which contain two immiscible phases. Our lecithins and phospholipids are interface active and an effective way to keep oil in water as well as water in oil emulsions stable, preventing separation of the phases. Suspensions can also be stabilized by lecithins and phospholipids.

Phosphatidylcholine is a phospholipid which is very easy to hydrate and to disperse. It stabilizes most effectively oil in water emulsions. Therefore we offer a top class range of phosphatidylcholine (PC) enriched to nearly pure products (min. 30% PC in Epikuron™ 130 P to min. 92% PC in Epikuron™ 200) to provide a suitable solution for nearly all oil in water emulsions.

* Also available in IP quality

Carrageenans are extracted from red seaweed. The carrageenan family is extremely diverse: it can be broadly classified into three "ideal" types, split into two groups:

Gelling carrageenans: kappa and iota

The iota carrageenan network is formed by a series of double- helices and kinks, that form a transparent, elastic gel. This loosely connected network can easily be destroyed by mechanical action. However, it reforms quickly once the mechanical action has stopped. This property is called " thixotropy " and is very useful in certain applications, such as pharmaceutical emulsions and syrup. Gelation of kappa carrageenan is particularly enhanced by the potassium ion. It induces gel formation at very low concentrations, creating a strong and brittle gel.

Thickening carrageenans: lambda

Mainly because of electrostatic repulsion, the chains of lambda carrageenan do not have a tendency to self-associate and can easily be separated from each other. Thus, lambda carrageenan acts simply as a thickening agent.

Xanthan gum

Xanthan gum is an hetero-polysaccharide for which the main chain contains glucose units. The presence of anionic side chains on the xanthan gum molecules enhances hydration and makes xanthan gum soluble in cold water.

Thanks to the unique rheological and synergetic properties of its aqueous solutions, xanthan gum is used in a large number of pharmaceutical applications as a suspending agent, an emulsion stabilizer and as a foam enhancer in semi-solid, liquid and topical formulations.