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.

Compendium of the most significant studies with reference to properties, intake, effects.

Locatelli-Champagne C, Suau JM, Guerret O, Pellet C, Cloitre M. Versatile Encapsulation Technology Based on Tailored pH-Responsive Amphiphilic Polymers: Emulsion Gels and Capsules. Langmuir. 2017 Dec 12;33(49):14020-14028. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b02689.

Petry I, Löbmann K, Grohganz H, Rades T, Leopold CS. In situ co-amorphisation in coated tablets - The combination of carvedilol with aspartic acid during immersion in an acidic medium. Int J Pharm. 2019 Mar 10;558:357-366. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.091.

Kranz H, Gutsche S. Evaluation of the drug release patterns and long term stability of aqueous and organic coated pellets by using blends of enteric and gastrointestinal insoluble polymers. Int J Pharm. 2009 Oct 1;380(1-2):112-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2009.07.013.

Wang C, Tam KC, Tan CB. Binding of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide to pH-responsive nanocolloids containing cross-linked methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymers. Langmuir. 2004 Sep 14;20(19):7933-9. doi: 10.1021/la049509o.

Wulff R, Leopold CS. Coatings from blends of Eudragit® RL and L55: a novel approach in pH-controlled drug release. Int J Pharm. 2014 Dec 10;476(1-2):78-87. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2014.09.023.

Jämstorp E, Yarra T, Cai B, Engqvist H, Bredenberg S, Strømme M. Polymer excipients enable sustained drug release in low pH from mechanically strong inorganic geopolymers. Results Pharma Sci. 2012 Feb 9;2:23-8. doi: 10.1016/j.rinphs.2012.02.001.

Shimizu T, Nakano Y, Morimoto S, Tabata T, Hamaguchi N, Igari Y. Formulation study for lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablet. I. Effect of compression on dissolution behavior. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2003 Aug;51(8):942-7. doi: 10.1248/cpb.51.942.

Lau KK, Gleason KK. All-dry synthesis and coating of methacrylic acid copolymers for controlled release. Macromol Biosci. 2007 Apr 10;7(4):429-34. doi: 10.1002/mabi.200700017.

Fina F, Goyanes A, Gaisford S, Basit AW. Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing of medicines. Int J Pharm. 2017 Aug 30;529(1-2):285-293. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2017.06.082.

Wang C, Tam KC, Tan CB. Dissolution and swelling behaviors of random and cross-linked methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymers. Langmuir. 2005 Apr 26;21(9):4191-9. doi: 10.1021/la047198b.

Yessine MA, Lafleur M, Meier C, Petereit HU, Leroux JC. Characterization of the membrane-destabilizing properties of different pH-sensitive methacrylic acid copolymers. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2003 Jun 27;1613(1-2):28-38. doi: 10.1016/s0005-2736(03)00137-8.

Campillo-Fernandez AJ, Pastor S, Abad-Collado M, Bataille L, Gomez-Ribelles JL, Meseguer-Dueñas JM, Monleon-Pradas M, Artola A, Alio JL, Ruiz-Moreno JM. Future design of a new keratoprosthesis. Physical and biological analysis of polymeric substrates for epithelial cell growth. Biomacromolecules. 2007 Aug;8(8):2429-36. doi: 10.1021/bm0703012.

Mwesigwa E, Buckton G, Basit AW. The hygroscopicity of moisture barrier film coatings. Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2005 Dec;31(10):959-68. doi: 10.1080/03639040500306187.