Hydroxypropyl cellulose

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Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Names
Other names Cellulose, 2-hydroxypropyl ether; oxypropylated cellulose; E463; hyprolose
Identifiers
CAS Registry Number
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
Properties
Chemical formula
Molar mass
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) is a derivative of cellulose with both water solubility and organic solubility. It is used as a topical ophthalmic protectant and lubricant.

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1 Chemistry

• 2 Uses

• 3 See also

• 4 Notes and references

Chemistry[edit]

HPC is an ether of cellulose in which some of the hydroxyl groups in the repeating glucose units have been hydroxypropylated forming -OCH₂CH(OH)CH₃ groups using propylene oxide. The average number of substituted hydroxyl groups per glucose unit is referred to as the degree of substitution (DS). Complete substitution would provide a DS of 3. Because the hydroxypropyl group added contains a hydroxyl group, this can also be etherified during preparation of HPC. When this occurs, the number of moles of hydroxypropyl groups per glucose ring, moles of substitution (MS), can be higher than 3.

Because cellulose is very crystalline, HPC must have an MS about 4 in order to reach a good solubility in water. HPC has a combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups, so it has a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at 45 °C. At temperatures below the LCST, HPC is readily soluble in water; above the LCST, HPC is not soluble.

HPC forms liquid crystals and many mesophases according to its concentration in water. Such mesophases include isotropic,anisotropic, nematic and cholesteric. The last one gives many colors such as violet, green and red.

Uses[edit]

Lacrisert, manufactured by Aton Pharma, is a formulation of HPC used for artificial tears. It is used to treat medical conditions characterized by insufficient tear production such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca), recurrent corneal erosions, decreased corneal sensitivity, exposure and neuroparalytic keratitis. HPC is also used as a lubricant for artificial eyes.^[1][2][3] As a food additive, HPC is used as a thickener, a low level binder and as an emulsion stabiliser with E number E463. In pharmaceuticals it is used as a disintegrant,^[4] and a binder,^[5] in tablets.

HPC is used as a sieving matrix for DNA separations by capillary and microchip electrophoresis.^[6]

HPC is the main ingredient in Cellugel, which is used in book conservation. Cellugel is described as "A safe, penetrating consolidant for leather book covers affected by red rot" and is produced by Preservation Solutions.^[7]

See also[edit]

• Carboxymethyl cellulose

• Methyl cellulose

Notes and references[edit]

1. Jump up^ Luchs J, Nelinson D, Macy J (December 2010). "Efficacy of hydroxypropyl cellulose inserts (LACRISERT®) in subsets of patients with dry eye syndrome (DES): Findings from a patient registry". Cornea 29 (12): 1417–1427. doi:10.1097/ICO.0b013e3181e3f05b. PMID 20847657.

2. Jump up^ McDonald M, D’Aversa G, Perry D, Wittpenn J, Nelinson D (Oct 2010). "Correlating patient-reported response to Hydroxypropyl cellulose ophthalmic insert (LACRISERT®) therapy with clinical outcomes: tools for predicting response". Curr Eye Res 35 (10): 880–887. doi:10.3109/02713683.2010.495811. PMID 20858108.

3. Jump up^ Koffler B, McDonald M, Nelinson D (May 2010). "Improvement in clinical signs, symptoms, and QoL associated with DES: Hydroxypropyl Cellulose Ophthalmic Insert Patient Registry". Eye and Contact Lens 36 (3): 170–176. doi:10.1097/ICL.0b013e3181db352f. PMID 20351555.

4. Jump up^ Lachman, Leon; Joseph B. Schwartz (1990). Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms--tablets. p. 177. ISBN 9780824780449.

5. Jump up^ Weiner, Myra L.; Lois A. Kotkoskie (1999). Excipient Toxicity and Safety. p. 8. ISBN 9780824782108.

6. Jump up^ "Sanders, J. C.; Breadmore, M. C.; Kwok, Y. C.; Horsman, K. M.; Landers, J. P., Hydroxypropyl cellulose as an adsorptive coating sieving matrix for DNA separations: artificial neural network optimization for microchip analysis. Anal Chem 2003, 75, (4), 986-94". Cat.inist.fr. Retrieved 2011-11-10.

7. Jump up^ "Cellugel". Conservationresources.com. Retrieved 2011-11-10.

Categories: 

• Excipients

• Food additives

• Cellulose

• Cellulose ethers