Edible coating composition

Abstract

An edible, hardenable coating composition containing microcrystalline cellulose and carrageenan and either a strengthening polymer, a plasticizer or both. The coating composition of the present invention may be applied to pharmaceutical and veterinary solid dosage forms, confectionery, seeds, animal feed, fertilizers, pesticide tablets, and foods and provides an elegant prompt release coating which does not retard the release of active ingredients from the coated substrate.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An edible, hardenable, prompt release coating composition comprising (a) microcrystalline cellulose, (b) a film forming amount of carrageenan, and (c) at least one of a strengthening polymer and a plasticizer, wherein said coating composition does not, when ingested or placed in an aqueous medium, significantly retard release of active ingredients from a substrate to which said coating is applied.  
     
     
         2 . The coating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrageenan is iota carrageenan.  
     
     
         3 . The coating composition of  claim 2 , wherein said composition contains a strengthening polymer.  
     
     
         4 . The coating composition of  claim 3 , wherein said strengthening polymer is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, ethylcellulose, methylcellulose, and polyvinylpyrrolidone.  
     
     
         5 . The coating composition of  claim 3 , wherein the strengthening polymer is hydroxyethylcellulose.  
     
     
         6 . The coating composition of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein the composition contains a plasticizer.  
     
     
         7 . The coating composition of  claim 6 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, triacetin, dibutyl sebacate, propylene glycol, sorbitol, glycerin, and triethyl citrate.  
     
     
         8 . The coating composition of  claim 6 , wherein said plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol and triacetin.  
     
     
         9 . The coating composition of  claim 6 , wherein said plasticizer is polyethylene glycol.  
     
     
         10 . The coating composition of  claim 6 , wherein said plasticizer is triacetin.  
     
     
         11 . The coating composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a filler.  
     
     
         12  The coating composition of  claim 11 , wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate and a carbohydrate.  
     
     
         13 . The coating composition of  claim 12 , wherein the filler is a carbohydrate filler selected from the group consisting of starch, maltodextrin, mannitol and lactose.  
     
     
         14 . The coating composition of  claim 13 , wherein said carbohydrate is maltodextrin or mannitol.  
     
     
         15 . The coating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of microcrystalline cellulose to carrageenan is in the range of about 90:10 to about 60:40.  
     
     
         16 . The coating composition of  claim 15 , wherein said weight ratio is in the range of about 85:15 to about 65:35.  
     
     
         17 . The coating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the microcrystalline cellulose has an average particle size in the range of 1 to 50 microns.  
     
     
         18 . The coating composition of  claim 17 , wherein the microcrystalline cellulose has an average particle size in the range of about 1 to about 30 microns.  
     
     
         19 . The coating composition of any of claims  1 - 4 , wherein said composition contains a plasticizer and said plasticizer is polyethylene glycol and further comprises maltodextrin.  
     
     
         20 . A dry coating composition comprising a dry blend of microcrystalline cellulose, carrageenan and at least one of a strengthening polymer and a plasticizer.  
     
     
         21 . The coating composition of  claim 1  or  20 , comprising at least 43% by weight of microcrystalline cellulose and carrageenan, from about 0.5% to about 30% strengthening polymer, optionally comprising, about 25% to about 40% plasticizer.  
     
     
         22 . A coating composition of  claim 21 , comprising by weight about 45% to about 60% microcrystalline cellulose and carrageenan, about 7% to about 22% strengthening polymer, and about 31% to about 35% plasticizer.  
     
     
         23 . The coating composition of  claim 22 , wherein the strengthening polymer is hydroxyethylcellulose and the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol and triacetin.  
     
     
         24 . An aqueous dispersion comprising a coating composition of the edible, hardenable, prompt release coating composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         25 . The aqueous dispersion of  claim 24 , having a solids content from about 6 weight percent to about 15 weight percent.  
     
     
         26 . The aqueous dispersion of  claim 25 , wherein the solids content is about 8 weight percent to about 11 weight percent.  
     
     
         27 . An aqueous dispersion of a composition of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said microcrystalline cellulose and carrageenan are present in a weight ratio of about 70:30; said strengthening polymer is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidone; said plasticizer is selected from at least one of the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, triacetin, dibutyl sebacate, propylene glycol, sorbitol, glycerin, and triethyl citrate; further comprising a filler selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, starch, maltodextrin, lactose and mannitol; a surfactant selected from the group consisting of sodium lauryl sulfate, a polysorbate, and block copolymers of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide; methyl and propyl paraben preservatives; edible coloring agents; and an opacifier selected from the group consisting of talc and titanium dioxide.  
     
     
         28 . An aqueous dispersion of a composition of  claim 19 , wherein said microcrystalline cellulose and carrageenan are present in a weight ratio of about 70:30.  
     
     
         29 . A pharmaceutical or veterinary solid dosage form coated with an edible, hardenable, prompt release coating composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         30 . The pharmaceutical or veterinary solid dosage form of  claim 29 , wherein the coating is applied to the solid dosage form at a level of about 0.5 weight % to about 4 weight % of the solid dosage form.  
     
     
         31 . The pharmaceutical or veterinary solid dosage form of  claim 30 , wherein the coating is applied to the dosage form at a level of about 2 weight % to about 3.5 weight % of the solid dosage form.  
     
     
         32 . A pharmaceutical or veterinary tablet coated with the aqueous dispersion of  claim 28 .  
     
     
         33 . Confectionery, seeds, animal feed, fertilizers, pesticide tablets, and foods coated with the aqueous dispersion of  claim 28 .  
     
     
         34 . A coating composition for use in lieu of a sugar coating consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, carrageenan, and polyethylene glycol.  
     
     
         35 . An edible, coating composition consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, iota carrageenan, hydroxyethylcellulose, high molecular weight polyethylene glycol and maltodextrin, wherein said microcrystalline cellulose has a particle size less than 50 microns.  
     
     
         36 . A pharmaceutical solid dosage form comprising the edible coating composition of  claim 35 .  
     
     
         37 . An aqueous dispersion comprising the edible coating composition of  claim 35  dispersed in aqueous media.  
     
     
         38 . An edible, coating composition consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, iota carrageenan, hydroxyethylcellulose, mannitol, a surfactant and a coloring agent, wherein said microcrystalline cellulose has a particle size less than 50 microns.  
     
     
         39 . A pharmaceutical solid dosage form comprising the edible coating composition of  claim 38 .  
     
     
         40 . An aqueous dispersion comprising the edible coating composition of  claim 39  dispersed in aqueous media.  
     
     
         41 . An edible, coating composition consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, iota carrageenan, hydroxyethylcellulose, and a coloring agent, wherein said microcrystalline cellulose has a particle size less than 50 microns.  
     
     
         42 . A pharmaceutical solid dosage form comprising the edible coating composition of  claim 41 .  
     
     
         43 . An aqueous dispersion comprising the edible coating composition of  claim 41  dispersed in aqueous media.  
     
     
         44 . An edible, coating composition consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, iota carrageenan, hydroxyethylcellulose, high molecular weight polyethylene glycol and a coloring agent, wherein said microcrystalline cellulose has a particle size less than 50 microns.  
     
     
         45 . The coating composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a coloring agent.  
     
     
         46 . A dry coating composition comprising microcrystalline cellulose, carrageenan and at least one of a strengthening polymer and a plasticizer, wherein said dry composition can be hydrated in a period of 0.3-3 hours at ambient temperature.