Film coating is widely used by the Pharmaceutical industry for the aesthetic and functional benefits it offers for both patient and laboratory.
Roquette has developed LYCOAT® range in response to market requirements for more functional coating solutions in terms of organoleptic properties, solubilisation and process efficiency.
What is LYCOAT® ?
LYCOA® is a modified starch specifically developed for aqueous film coating for immediate release, solid oral dosage forms.
Roquette’s new LYCOAT® range is a major breakthrough in aqueous film coating .
Coating time reduced by up to half, no worries with lumping or foaming, unbeatable quality : LYCOAT® offers enhanced performances compared with standard polymers currently available in the market.
LYCOAT® is available in two viscosity grades:
- LYCOAT® RS 780, developing lower viscosity
- LYCOAT® RS 720, developing higher viscosity
Viscosity as a function of dry substance
Coating process: simple, quick and efficient
Preparation at its simplest
- Complete and very rapid dissolution at room temperature using traditional mixing equipment, for lump- and foam-free suspensions.
- A neutral polymer, LYCOAT® leaves the flavor and the color of tablets totally unaffected.
Low viscosity for substantial cost savings
- No production stop for cleaning operations or to use specific anti-bearding guns
- Even at high solid content, LYCOAT® assures spraying uniformity and hence coating quality.
Viscosity as a function of temperature (Rheometer physica MCR 301)
As temperatures increases, LYCOAT® viscosity decreases, contrary to other polymers, thus avoiding bearding phenomena.
Quick coating cuts process costs
LYCOAT® helps reduce coating costs dramatically thanks to:
- Minimized coating time
- No production stops for gun cleaning
A shorter coating time with LYCOAT® RS 780 than HPMC
A 3% LYCOAT® deposit is achieved in about 30 minutes vs 60 minutes necessary with HPMC.
Coating performances: great, glossy and high quality
pH- independent disintegration time
- LYCOAT® coating does not significantly alter disintegration time, whatever the pH of the media: water, gastric or intestinal.
- API solubilisation is unaffected, whatever the pH.
A brilliant appearance
- Tablets coated with LYCOAT® have a very attractive finish: uniform color, smooth surface, high gloss - No logo-bridging, infilling or intagliations can be detected.
Film robustness
- The LYCOAT® films on the tablets are more resistant to deformation and stress – No friability or edge chipping can be observed.
- LYCOAT® also confers good stability together with beneficial barrier properties.
Regulatory status
Food regulatory status
LYCOAT® is compliant with the European directive on food additives (E1440) and with the 21 CFR. This makes it an ideal polymer for nutraceutical film coating.
Pharmaceutical regulatory status
LYCOAT® fulfils the analytical tests of the USP/NF monographs and all the analytical specifications of major food or pharmaceutical modified starch monographs.
Read more
Ready-mix products based on LYCOAT® are marketed under the ReadiLYCOATTM
For more information: www.readilycoat.com
Product data (monograph, formulation ideas, sample request)
AAPS 2006 poster - Functional Advantages of a Novel Modified Starch over HPMC in Aqueous Film Coating of Tablets
