Tablet coating is used to enhance a given functionality of the tablet. For example, it can provide a smooth covering for easier swallowing, create a branded pill for marketing, increase the shelf life of the pill, or obscure bitter taste. Tablet coating has the same general use, but you can use different materials. Various coating materials are used, and they all have varying effects on the medication results. These coating types include the following.
Film Coating
This is the most common and faster tablet coating process commonly used. It involves spraying a solution into a rotating tablet bed. This then forms a thin, uniform film on the tablet surface. The spraying solution contains; plasticizer, polymer, and pigments.
Sugar Coating
Unlike film coating, sugar coating takes the longest time. It mainly purposed to mask the medication taste providing the tablet with an attractive color. This gives the tablets a sweet covering to obscure the bitter taste. It uses coloring to give the tablets an appealing appearance. Moreover, it uses a sealed cover to prevent moisture from getting to the tablet. And finally, polishing to give the tablets an attractive luster.
Extended Release
This type of coating aims to protect the tablet from stomach acid. It uses polymer applied through the tablet coating systems to the drug while ensuring it takes full effect. Moreover, this coating also protects the stomach lining to prevent damage to the inner walls.
Active Drug Layering
This tablet coating involves depositing the drug on the substrate’s surface. Using different methods involves using an active substance layered as a powder on the tablet’s core. Powder coating technologies are standard with controlled-release tablets for pharmaceutical production.
There are several tablet coating solutions that different processes require. This depends on the kind of product you are working with and the tablet coating systems you are using. As different tablet coating solutions impact the products differently.