pharmaceutical field

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) enjoys extensive applications in the pharmaceutical field due to its excellent biocompatibility, thickening properties, adhesive capabilities and sustained-release properties. In the preparation of tablets, CMC is used as a binder to help shape the powdered drug components. For instance, certain oral tablets (such as paracetamol tablets) use CMC as an excipient to ensure the hardness and integrity of the tablets, also improving the adhesion of the drug particles, and it can rapidly swell in water to promote tablet disintegration (as a disintegrant).

Sustained-release drug carrier

CMC can be used to prepare sustained-release matrix tablets, such as the sustained-release tablets of theophylline. On one hand, by adjusting the viscosity grade of CMC, the rate of drug release can be controlled, thereby prolonging the efficacy of the drug. On the other hand, a gel layer is formed in the gastrointestinal tract, which delays the diffusion of the drug and enables continuous release.

Local application (gel, ointment)

Oral ulcer gel: CMC serves as the matrix (such as the compound chamomile lidocaine gel), providing adhesiveness and prolonging the drug's retention time on the ulcer surface.
Burn dressings: CMC combined with silver ions (such as silver dressings), used to prevent infection of the wound and maintain a moist environment, with excellent film-forming and moisturizing properties, promoting wound healing.

The thickening agent of eye drops

Artificial tears (such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose eye drops) often contain CMC to increase viscosity and prolong the retention time on the ocular surface, thereby alleviating dry eye syndrome; they also have relatively high biocompatibility and do not cause irritation to the eyes.
Biological adhesion preparations

Oral or vaginal adhesive tablets (such as clotrimazole vaginal tablets) use CMC as the adhesive material to enhance the retention and absorption of the drug at the mucosal site, prolong the duration of drug action, and reduce the frequency of administration.

Drug coating materials

In the coating of enteric-coated tablets, CMC is combined with other polymers (such as acrylic resins) to protect the drug from being decomposed in the stomach acid and to achieve targeted release in the intestine.

Print the drug carrier

Recent studies have utilized the gelation properties of CMC as a supporting material for 3D-printed drugs, to prepare personalized formulations (such as complex-structured sustained-release pills), and precisely control the drug dosage and release curve.