Methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1) or Methacrylic acid copolymer, type C - NF is a chemical compound used as a thermoplastic polymer excipient of pharmaceutical grade.It has many applications in cosmetics such as shampoos, facial and body cleansers, sunscreens. Its purpose is to protect the contents of the capsule.

The need to use neutral methacrylate copolymer and anionic methacrylate copolymer in solid food supplements is dictated by technological reasons. Neutral methacrylate copolymer is intended to be used as a sustained-release coating agent. Sustained-release formulations allow the continuous dissolution of a nutrient over a period of time. Anionic methacrylate copolymer is intended to be used as a coating agent to protect the stomach wall from irritating ingredients and/or to protect sensitive nutrients from disintegration by gastric acid. (1).

In the European Food Additives List, neutral methacrylate copolymer has been assigned the number E 1206 and anionic methacrylate copolymer E 1207.

In this study, the effect that minor to moderate polymer degradation within the extrudates has on their long-term physical stability and dissolution characteristics is analyzed and discussed (2).

The intention of this study was to show under what conditions a film-forming methacrylic acid copolymer coating excipient, corresponding to pharmacopoeia requirements but obtained from different sources, can be replaced without serious problems (3).

Some studies on microencapsulation and active ingredient release techniques involving methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer (4).

It appears as a white powder with a boiling point of 73-74 °C (pressure: 0.2 Torr).

Density: 1.168±0.06 g/cm3

PH:  2.1-3.0

Methacrylic Acid and Ethyl Acrylate Copolymer studies

Molecular Formula:  C₉H₁₄O₄

Molecular Weight:  186.20

CAS: 25212-88-8

NACRES:  NA.24

Synonyms:

• Ethylacrylat-Methacrylsure-Copolymer
• Eudragit^®

References____________________________________________________________________

(1) POOL/E3/2012/12756 European Commission

(2) Mathers A, Hassouna F, Malinová L, Merna J, Růžička K, Fulem M. Impact of Hot-Melt Extrusion Processing Conditions on Physicochemical Properties of Amorphous Solid Dispersions Containing Thermally Labile Acrylic Copolymer. J Pharm Sci. 2020 Feb;109(2):1008-1019. doi: 10.1016/j.xphs.2019.10.005.

(3) Binder V, Hirsch S, Scheiffele S, Bauer KH. Preliminary applicability tests of different methacrylic acid copolymers, type C NF, particularly relevant to spreading and film formation. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 1998 Sep;46(2):229-32. doi: 10.1016/s0939-6411(97)00163-x. 

(4) Homayun B, Sun C, Kumar A, Montemagno C, Choi HJ. Facile fabrication of microparticles with pH-responsive macropores for small intestine targeted drug formulation. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2018 Jul;128:316-326. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2018.05.014. 

Fleer NA, Pelcher KE, Zou J, Nieto K, Douglas LD, Sellers DG, Banerjee S. Hybrid Nanocomposite Films Comprising Dispersed VO2 Nanocrystals: A Scalable Aqueous-Phase Route to Thermochromic Fenestration. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2017 Nov 8;9(44):38887-38900. doi: 10.1021/acsami.7b09779.