Using a tablet coater is beneficial for a number of reasons, including better palatability and the addition of colour and gloss. Additionally, some coatings use sugar as a basis to improve palatability and stability. The initial dose release can be changed by others. While the most typical approach for large-scale manufacturing is to use a full-scale tablet coater machine, small-scale production frequently necessitates a flexible tablet coating solution. This article will explore various coatings, including electrostatic, compression, gelatine, and aqueous sugar film.

Compression Coating on Tablets

The process of compression coating can be used to create tablets without a bitter flavour. The coating can be used to generate an oral dosage form and is made from substances that do not interact with the pharmaceutical active component. The application of compression coating can increase patient compliance and lessen the unpleasant taste that is brought on by other substances, such as water or solvents. Due to the cheaper ingredients required for its preparation, compression coating is likewise less expensive to produce than film coating. Compared to film coating equipment, compression coating machines can process formulas more quickly and efficiently.

Automatic Tablet Coater

Tablet with Electrostatic Coating

An electric charge is applied to a powdered medication ingredient in order to create pharmaceutical tablets with an electrostatic coating. The powder particle receives this charge, which causes it to move in the direction of the tablet’s centre. Between the source and the tablet core, it interacts with the electric field. Corona charging or triboelectricity are used to apply an electrostatic charge to the powder. When the net charge is applied, the coating material is open to it and can keep the charge for long enough to allow the right direction.

The powder used for electrostatic tablet coating contains a variety of different-sized particles. This may result in inconsistent coating quality and homogenous coatings. As a result, this technique is not frequently used in the production of pharmaceuticals.

Tablet Coater Machine

Aqueous Sugar Film Coating Tablets

A sort of tablet coating method called aqueous sugar film coating makes use of sugar syrup to improve a product’s scalability. The tablet cores are covered with a precise quantity of sugar syrup in this procedure, followed by some time spent rolling. The sugar coating is evenly distributed across the tablet’s surface thanks to the rolling procedure. The sugar coating functions as an antioxidant naturally.

In the past, sugar coating was a technique used to create tastefully coated tablets. This approach, nevertheless, has significant drawbacks. In order to avoid the cores from becoming too wet during the ladling process, sugar coating first calls for the application of a seal-coating solution in an organic solvent. Second, the ladling procedure requires several days to complete, is labor-intensive, and operator-dependent. These problems significantly increase batch-to-batch variability while limiting the operator’s flexibility. This procedure takes less time than it traditionally did, and automated film spraying equipment can be used to apply a sugar film coating system. Both standard and perforated coating pans can use it.

Gelatin Layer in Tablet Coating

Previously, the gelatin coating was not a workable alternative due to the possibility of negative reactions. It is therefore recommended to cover the tablet’s surface in a non-porous substance. High levels of accuracy can be achieved while applying the material. Nevertheless, it is not advised to chew or crush the tablet when applying. Tablets with delayed release respond well to the electrostatic coating process. Granular particles are compressed around a prepared tablet to make it work.

Gelatin-coated tablets are a brand-new type of manufactured good. They are created by layering elastic gelatine film that conforms perfectly to tablets and firmly seals with them. The layers of gelatine can be peeled off at the seal line and may differ in colour from the tablet. These pills can be made using a variety of formulas. About 45% gelatin and 9% plasticizer make up a water-based gelatine formulation.

Tablet Coating Pan

The Bottom Line

To give coated tablets some advantages over uncoated ones, tablet coating machines essentially add a thin strip of coating to the outside of the dosage forms of tablets. And the coatings that can be utilised to coat tablets are some of those that are mentioned above.