This document provides a review of hydroxyethyl celluloses. It describes hydroxyethyl cellulose as a white powder that is odorless, tasteless and hygroscopic. It is used as a thickening agent, suspending agent, tablet binder and viscosity-increasing agent. The document compares hydroxyethyl cellulose to other polymers, finding it has high polymer dissolution and drug release capability. Hydroxyethyl cellulose shows good mucoadhesive properties compared to other polymers like sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. The conclusion is that hydroxyethyl cellulose is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations between concentrations of 1.5-3% weight/weight.

1. A REVIEW ON HYDROXYETHYL
CELLULOSES
Prepared by: Guided by:
Mr. Jiten B. Patel Mr. Nishant Upadhyay
M.Pharm(2nd Sem) Assit. Pro. M.pharm
BMCP(215),Surat

2. General description
1. Nonproprietary Names
 BP: Hydroxyethylcellulose
 PhEur: Hydroxyethylcellulose
 USP-NF: Hydroxyethyl Cellulose
2. Synonyms
 Cellosize HEC; Cellulose hydroxyethyl ether; Cellulose 2-
hydroxyethyl, Cellulose hydroxyethylate
3. Chemical Name
 2-hydroxyethyl ether

3. 5. Structural Formula
R is H or [—CH2CH2O—]mH where m is a common integral
number of cellulose derivatives.
6. Functional Category
Coating agent; Thickening agent;
Suspending agent; Tablet binder;
Viscosity-increasing agent.

4. 8. Description
Hydroxyethyl cellulose occurs as a white, yellowish-white or
grayish-white, odorless and tasteless, hygroscopic powder.
7. Applications in Pharmaceutical Formulation
 Thickening agent in ophthalmic and topical formulations,
 Used as a binder and film-coating agent for tablets,
 It is present in lubricant preparations for dry eye, contact lens care,
and dry mouth,
 Hydroxyethyl cellulose is also widely used in cosmetics.

5. 10. Typical Properties
 Density (bulk)
0.35–0.61 g/cm3 for Cellosize;
0.60 g/cm3 for Natrosol.
 Melting point
Softens at 135–140ºC; decomposes at about 280ºC.
 Solubility
Hydroxyethyl cellulose is soluble in hot or cold water.
Practically insoluble in acetone, ethanol (95%), ether, toluene.
In some polar organic solvents, such as the glycols, hydroxyethyl
cellulose either swells or is partially soluble.

6. 11. Method of Manufacture
A purified Swollen
Sodium Ethylene
form of alkali
hydroxide oxide
cellulose cellulose
A series of hydroxyethyl
cellulose ethers.
14. Safety
Nontoxic and Nonirritant material.

7. Comparison of HEC with other
polymer
1. In Buccal patches of miconazole nitrate
• HEC (1.5% w/w) solutions.
•HEC is more hydrophilic and has high
polymer dissolution whereas HPMC has
slow erosion rate.
•HEC is showing greater drug release
than SCMC, chitosan, and HPMC but

8.
2. piroxicam formulated in gel forms
Prepared by using different polymer like HPMC, HPC, HEC,
Carbopol 934 etc.
Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC, 1.5, 2%, w/v),
The rank order of permeation appeared to be:
HPMC > HPC ≥ Na alg. > MC > HEC > Carb. 934 ≥ NaCMC > PF-127
> PVA.
HEC shows good mucoadhesive properties, but Na CMC shows better
then HEC.

9. 3. Deoxycholate-hydrogels
Drug release profile Drug permeation profile

10. 4. Delayed release tablet using HEC as a gel forming
matrix
Three sub type of HEC on the bases of
viscosity:
• CM-L4 (14 cps)
• CM-L3 (27 cps)
• CM-L2 (95 cps)

11. 5. Mucoadhesive, syringeable drug delivery systems
for controlled application of metronidazole
Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC; 3 and 5%, w/w)
Increasing concentrations of HEC
Increased formulation mucoadhesive bond strength.
Increased hardness, compressibility and adhesiveness.
In formulations containig 5% (w/w) HEC or carbopol, the amount of
free water is decreased and followed by swelling in comperision to
3%(w/w) HEC or Carbopol.

12. 6.Comparative evaluation of rate of hydration and
matrix erosion of HEC and HPC and study of drug
release from their matrices
50% drug release, for HEC(4.8 h)and
for HPC(6.5 h)

13. Conclusion
In the present study we evaluated HEC widely used as Coating
agent; Thickening agent Suspending agent; Tablet binder; Viscosity-
increasing agent, Easily available, Nontoxic and Nonirritant
material. HEC has high polymer dissolution and greater drug release
capability. HEC shows good mucoadhesive properties as compare to
other polymer. HEC shows better result within 1.5-3%w/w after that
decreased formulation mucoadhesive bond strength, Increased
hardness, compressibility and adhesiveness.

14. Reference:
 Hand book of pharmaceutical excipients, volume 6, pages
311-313,Raymond C Rowe,Paul J shesky,Marian E Quinn
 International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Volume 264, Issues 1–2, 2
October 2003, Pages 1-14
Noha A Nafee, Fatma A Ismail, Nabila A Boraie, Lobna M Mortada
 International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Volume 276, Issues 1–2, 19
May 2004, Pages 11-28
M.A Attia, I El-Gibaly, S.E Shaltout, G.N Fetih
 International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Volume 151, Issue 2, 26
May 1997, Pages 223-233
David S Jones, A.David Woolfson, Andrew F Brown
 Journal of Controlled Release, Volume 49, Issue 1, 10 November
1997, Pages 71-79
David S Jones, A.David Woolfson, Andrew F Brown, Michael J
O'Neill

15. THANK YOU