Vaccine Lab / Alfa Chemistry
Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose

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Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose

Catalog Number ACM9004653-35
CAS 9004-65-3
Description Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC) is a chemical compound made from cellulose, which is the main structural component of plant cell walls. It is a white to off-white, odorless, and tasteless powder that is water-soluble and has a wide range of applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and construction industries.
Appearance white to slightly off-white, odorless, and tasteless powder or granule
Physical State Powder
Viscosity 4,000cp (2% solution)
Knowledge & Learning Case Study Q&A

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose for the Preparation of Berberine Hydrochloride Extended-release Cold Sols

Design of berberine hydrochloride sustained-release cold sol using hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose K100M to achieve superior drug dissolution and transdermal absorption Zhang X, et al. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024, 275(2), 133611.

Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) can be utilized to prepare slow-release, cold-soluble gels containing berberine hydrochloride (Ber) as a model drug to enhance drug dissolution and transdermal absorption.
Preparation Method:
Preparation of the Matrix: Dissolve Carbomer 940 and HPMC in a 100 mL beaker with glycerol under stirring. Add water to the mixture and let it stand at room temperature for 4-6 hours until fully dissolved.
Preparation of Carbomer Solution: Accurately weigh 0.03 g of Carbomer 940 in a beaker. Add 3 mL of 0.1 mol/L hydrochloric acid and 2 mL of anhydrous ethanol. Dissolve by heating in a water bath, then set aside to cool to room temperature.
Combining Drug and Matrix: Mix the prepared drug solution with the matrix system thoroughly. Add Tween-80, peppermint oil, and ethyl hydroxyethyl benzoate. Adjust the pH to 6-7 using triethanolamine. Add water until the total weight reaches 15 g. Degas the final mixture using an ultrasonic cleaner for 20 minutes.
Results:
The optimal matrix components for slow release were found to be 1.67 wt% Carbomer 940 and 1.33 wt% HPMC K100M. The drug dissolution rate of the cold-soluble gel prepared with this combination was significantly slower compared to the gel without HPMC.

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose for the Development of Novel Nanofibre Pads

A novel designed nanofibrous mat based on hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose incorporating mango peel extract for potential use in wound care system Al-Naymi HAS, et al. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024, 259(1), 129159.

Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and mango peel extract (MPE) were used to create innovative nanofiber pads for wound care systems.
Preparation of Nanofiber Pads:
Polymer Solution Preparation: Mix polyurethane (PU) and HPMC in DMF at a 90:10 % w/w ratio. Stir the mixture for 3 hours to achieve a homogeneous solution. Load the solution into a 5 mL plastic syringe with a 21 G needle.
Electrospinning Process: Electrospin the solution at 16-20 kV with a 10 cm distance between the needle tip and the collector, and a feed rate of 0.6 mL/h. To incorporate MPE, add it to the PU90/HPMC10 solution in varying ratios (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) and stir for 1 hour. Electrospin the MPE-infused solutions under the same conditions. Conduct all electrospinning experiments at room temperature with 50 ± 5% humidity.

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose in Inkjet Printing for Cotton/Polyamide Fabrics

High viscosity hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose to improve inkjet printing for cotton/polyamide fabrics Qiao X, et al. Industrial Crops and Products, 2023, 191, 115907.

This study explores the use of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) to form a continuous film on cotton/polyamide interwoven fabric, improving the stability and quality of inkjet printing.
Experimental Method
Preparation of Pretreatment Solution I: Mix 2% polymer (HPMC or sodium alginate), 1% pH regulator (sodium bicarbonate or acetic acid), and 3% urea. A control solution without a pH regulator was also prepared.
Preparation of Pretreatment Solution II: Solution II contained saturated sodium chloride and 2.8% sodium hydroxide, with the remainder being water.
Fabric Pretreatment:
Cotton/polyamide plain weave (C/PA) fabrics were padded twice with Solution I (control, with sodium bicarbonate, or with acetic acid) using a padder. The fabrics were dried and then printed with patterns or color blocks (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) using an inkjet printing machine.
Steaming Process: A portion of the samples was pre-steamed for 10 minutes at 102°C. The other samples skipped this step. All fabrics were then padded twice with Solution II and steamed again under the same conditions. Between each step, the fabrics were dried. Finally, the fabrics were washed repeatedly to remove auxiliaries and unreactive dyes.
Results
The formation of ridges between fibers was closely related to the properties of HPMC. HPMC connected fibers within the yarns, preventing ink penetration into the yarn bottoms. Additionally, HPMC maintained high viscosity under acidic conditions, facilitating the dyeing of polyamide fibers with reactive dyes. These results demonstrate that HPMC significantly enhances inkjet printing quality on cotton and polyamide fibers. The improved performance suggests that HPMC has the potential for widespread application in both natural and synthetic fiber printing.

Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose for the Preparation of Curcumin Solid Dispersions

Delivery of curcumin in a carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose carrier: Physicochemical properties and biological activity Wang S, et al. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023, 239, 124203.

Curcumin solid dispersions (Cur SDs) can be prepared using hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). These solid dispersions, made from CMC and HPMC, are promising hydrocolloid carriers that enhance the oral bioavailability and efficacy of curcumin.
Cur SDs were prepared as follows:
An ethanol solution of curcumin (0.5 mg/mL) was added to a solution containing four different ratios of HPMC and CMC (1 mg/mL) using the antisolvent method. The mixture was stirred overnight at 200 rpm in a water bath at 37 °C. The solution was then extracted from the curcuminoids using a vacuum rotary evaporator. Ethanol was removed at 45 °C using the vacuum rotary evaporator, and the product was stored at -20 °C. The samples were freeze-dried to obtain curcumin solid dispersions and stored in a desiccator.
Conclusion:
DSC, SEM, FTIR, Raman, and fluorescence analyses demonstrated that HPMC and CMC effectively encapsulated curcumin. The hydroxyl group of CMC interacted with the methoxy substituent and hydroxypropyl group of HPMC, slowing down the loss of HPMC in simulated gastrointestinal fluids. This interaction formed more hydrogen bonds with curcumin, reduced the number of hydrogen bonds within curcumin, preserved its amorphous morphology, and improved its solubility. Additionally, the hydroxyl and carboxylate groups of CMC conferred a greater negative surface potential to Cur SDs, increasing solubility, dissolution rate, and bioavailability. These findings suggest that the solid dispersion formulation of curcumin with CMC and HPMC is a promising strategy to enhance the bioavailability and efficacy of curcumin.

Microscopic Thickening Mechanism of Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose in Cementitious Materials

Microscopic thickening mechanisms of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose ether anti-washout admixture and its impact on cementitious material rheology and anti-dispersal performance Chen W, et al. Journal of Building Engineering, 2024, 89, 109346.

Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose ether (HPMC) was selected as the anti-washout admixture (AWA) in the formulation of underwater non-dispersible concrete (NDC). Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate how HPMC operates at the nanoscale, while experiments assessed its effect on the flowability, anti-dispersion properties, and rheological characteristics of NDC.
Methodology and Findings
Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that HPMC forms stable Ca-O bonds with calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), which helps mitigate water erosion, making HPMC an effective AWA. To understand the impact of HPMC viscosity, cement paste was mixed with HPMC of varying viscosities. The study found that higher viscosities enhance the thickening effect but reduce flowability.
Preparation and Evaluation of NDC
NDC was prepared using HPMC, and its properties were evaluated. The rheological characteristics indicated a shear-thinning behavior consistent with the modified-Bingham model. The NDC showed excellent resistance to underwater washout and self-compactness, demonstrating the effectiveness of HPMC as an AWA.
Conclusion
The findings highlight the importance of viscosity in determining HPMC's performance, with HPMC-15W identified as a preferable choice due to its balanced thickening and flowability properties. The use of HPMC in NDC results in superior anti-dispersion properties and workability, making it an ideal AWA for underwater concrete applications.

What is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose used for in the cosmetics industry?

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is used in skin care products, hair care products, and cosmetic products. It serves various purposes such as moisturizing, improving texture, adding volume, and enhancing the consistency of formulations.

What are the properties of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose?

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is a hydrophilic modified cellulose polymer. It is water-soluble, appears as a white or off-white powder, and is derived from cotton.

How does hydroxypropyl methylcellulose benefit skin care products?

It acts as a film-forming substance, binding agent, emulsion stabilizer, and texture enhancer. It forms a protective barrier, prevents moisture loss, and maintains skin hydration. It also improves the texture and provides a smooth feel.

How does hydroxypropyl methylcellulose benefit hair care products?

It improves the texture of hair shafts, adds volume, and controls frizz. It is commonly found in shampoos, conditioners, and styling products.

What are some examples of cosmetic products that contain hydroxypropyl methylcellulose?

Lip balms, foundations, and other cosmetic products may contain hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as a thickener, emulsifier, and stabilizer.

How is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose produced?

It is produced by treating cellulose with sodium hydroxide to form alkali cellulose, which is then reacted with propylene oxide and methyl chloride to substitute hydroxyl groups on the cellulose chain with hydroxypropyl and methyl groups, respectively. The final product is washed, purified, and dried into a powder or granule form.

What are some additional uses of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose?

It has been tested for promoting wound healing in the creation of hydrogels. It is also used as a food additive.

What is the recommended usage level of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in cosmetics?

The usage levels range from 0.2% to 1%, depending on the desired texture. Gel formulations typically require higher amounts.

Is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose safe for use in cosmetics?

Yes, it has been determined by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel to be safe for use in cosmetics. However, excessive exposure may cause dryness and irritation, and conducting a patch test is recommended.

Is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose suitable for vegans and those following a halal lifestyle?

Yes, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is a vegan and halal ingredient.

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