Cellulose Acetate

Non-enteric celluose ester

Cellulose Acetate is cellulose in which a portion or all of the hydroxyl groups are acetylated. It is prepared from highly purified cellulose by treatment with acid catalysis and acetic anhydride. It occurs as a white, odourless, tasteless, free-flowing powders. They are mainly used for sustained release applications and taste masking.

Cellulose Acetate is used as a semi-permeable coating on tablets, especially on osmotic pump-type tablets and implants. This allows for controlled, extended release of actives. Cellulose acetate films, in conjunction with other materials, also offer sustained release without the necessity of drilling a hole in the coating as it is typical with osmotic pump systems. Cellulose acetate and other cellulose esters have also been used to form drug-loaded microparticles with controlled-release characteristics.