Development of Ethyl Cellulose-based Formulations: A Perspective on the Novel Technical Methods

ABSTRACT

Cellulose is known as the most abundant natural polymer and ethyl cellulose (EC) is one of its important derivatives. Recently, EC, as a non-toxic and biodegradable polymer, has attracted attention thanks to its unique properties such as oleogel formation, delivery of active component, and film-forming ability in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. EC-based oleogels have great promise for replacing with unhealthy hydrogenated oils in food products. The EC emulgel could be used as a fat replacer in different food and drug formulation and also for encapsulation of active components. EC, as a non-digestable and water-insoluble polymer, forms micro- and nano-particles with unique properties. Accordingly, this paper tries to focus on mechanistic review of different methods for the fabrication of EC-based formulations and micro/nanoparticles with emphasis on recent progress on wide range applications of the water-insoluble polymer. Additionally, different techniques are discussed in this paper including oleogelation, anti-solvent, emulsion, Pickering emulsion, and electrospinning for the preparation of EC-based formulations.

KEYWORDS:

• anti-solvent
• electrospinning
• ethylcellulose
• oleogel
• Pickering emulsion

Acknowledgments

The vice-chancellor of research of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences financially supported this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences [59084].