ABSTRACT
Cellulose ether polymers are used in a broad variety of industrial applications such as food products, adhesives, paints, textiles and paper. In the pharmaceutical industry, cellulose ethers have also found widespread use [1] and many pharma ceutical products are formulated with cellulose ethers. In solid dosage forms, they are primarily used as tablet binders, film-coating agents, and controlled release
matrix formers. Water soluble cellulose ethers, such as methylcellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), are effective as hydrophilic matrix forming compo nents [2, 3]. Water insoluble ethylcellulose (EC) has been mainly used as a hydrophobic coating material or matrix former for modifying the release of drugs from oral dosage forms [1,4].
