Abstract: Tablets of a pharmaceutical, nutritional or vitamin active compound or composition, e.g. a poorly compressible drug are made by direct compression using a synergistic binder composition of co-processed (a) copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone (VP) and vinyl acetate (VA) and (b) microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), in a wt. ratio of (a):(b) of 1-30:99-70, which is spray dried to provide a readily compressible excipient binder powder for such active. The tablets obtained herein have advantageous hardness and friability at an acceptable compression force.

Abstract: What is described is a reactive extrusion process of making a polymeric hydrogel of a polymeric anhydride or acid, e.g. maleic anhydride or maleic acid polymer, or copolymer thereof, crosslinked with a crosslinking agent containing at least 2 crosslinkable groups, particularly, —OH or —NH2, or both. The reaction product is a crosslinked polymeric ester or amide/imide, or both, suitably having a mole ratio of —OH, or —NH2, to —COOH, of 1:10 to 10:1, preferably 2:10 to 7:1. The hydrogel is particularly swellable in water, e.g. >100% in 1 hour in aqueous media; and forms a thin, tacky layer on a substrate, which property is useful in bioadhesive products.

Abstract: What is described is a reactive extrusion process of making a polymeric hydrogel of a polymeric anhydride or acid, e.g. maleic anhydride or maleic acid polymer, or copolymer thereof, crosslinked with a crosslinking agent containing at least 2 crosslinkable groups, particularly, —OH or —NH2, or both. The reaction product is a crosslinked polymeric ester or amide/imide, or both, suitably having a mole ratio of —OH, or —NH2, to —COOH, of 1:10 to 10:1, preferably 2:10 to 7:1. The hydrogel is particularly swellable in water, e.g. >100% in 1 hour in aqueous media; and forms a thin, tacky layer on a substrate, which property is useful in bioadhesive products.