Understanding Water Penetration Enhancers
Another group of excipients in solid dosage forms are the so-called water penetration enhancers.
How They Work
They do not have any disintegration effect themselves but assist water to penetrate the tablet. As a result, water can reach the particles of the disintegrants better, and these can therefore develop their effect more quickly. Which means the tablet disintegrates faster.
The Wicking Mechanism
The effect is based on wicking: hydrophilic particles, which are often very small, form tiny capillaries. Due to the capillary effect, water flows into them and is transported into the tablet.
Colloidal silicon dioxide is a famous example. In addition to its use as a flow-regulating excipient, it can be used as a water penetration enhancer.
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