Hydroxyethyl Cellulose is a nonionic, water-soluble polymer used as a thickener, binder, and film-coating agent in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. It enhances viscosity in ophthalmic and topical products and is also found in lubricants for dry eye, contact lens care, and dry mouth.
Chemical Name and CAS Registry Number :- Cellulose, 2-hydroxyethyl ether [9004-62-0]
Functional Category :- Coating agent; suspending agent; tablet binder; thickening agent; viscosity-increasing agent.
| Test | JP 2001 | PhEur 2005 | USP 28 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identification | ✔✔✔ | ✔ | ✔✔✔ |
| pH | 5.0–8.5 | 5.5–8.5 | — |
| Loss on Drying | ≤5.0% | ≤10.0% | ≤5.0% |
| Residue on Ignition | ≤1.5% | ≤1.5% | ≤2.0% |
| Heavy Metals | ≤10 ppm | ≤20 ppm | ≤0.001% |
| Degree of Substitution (DS) | 1.8–2.5 | — | 1.8–2.5 |
Hydroxyethyl cellulose is a water-soluble polymer primarily used as a thickening agent in ophthalmic and topical formulations. It also functions as a binder and film-coating agent in tablets and is found in lubricants for dry eye, contact lens care, and dry mouth. Its concentration in formulations varies based on solvent and molecular weight. Additionally, it is widely used in cosmetics.
Hydroxyethyl cellulose has limited use in foodstuffs compared to its extensive application as an excipient in oral pharmaceutical formulations.
