Abstract: Among the conventional processes for producing solid dispersion, the solid dispersion obtained by a solvent method is excellent in terms of solubility and bioavailability of a poorly soluble drug. However, due to frequent uses of organic solvents in the solvent method, problems have arisen such as organic solvent residue in products, environmental pollution and operational safety as well as corporate problems such as capital investment and the like required to avoid such events. The present invention provides a process for preparing pharmaceutical solid preparations without use of organic solvents frequently used in conventional solvent methods.

Abstract: Among the conventional methods for producing a solid dispersion, the solvent method is renowned for providing a solid dispersion that has improved solubility and bioavailability for poorly soluble drugs. However, the solvent method often uses volatile organic solvents such as dichloromethane, acetone and alcohol, causing problems such as the organic solvents remaining in the product, environmental pollution, workplace safety as well as the cost of the equipment necessary to avoid these concerns. Accordingly, a novel process is provided for preparing a solid dispersion without using the organic solvents often used in a conventional solvent method. That is, it is found that a solid preparation excellent in solubility can be obtained by carrying out a non-solvent coating method in which a core particle or particles are coated with an enteric coating agent and a plasticizer composition comprising a poorly soluble drug dissolved in a plasticizer.

Abstract: Among the conventional processes for producing solid dispersion, the solid dispersion obtained by a solvent method is excellent in terms of solubility and bioavailability of a poorly soluble drug. However, due to frequent uses of organic solvents in the solvent method, problems have arisen such as organic solvent residue in products, environmental pollution and operational safety as well as corporate problems such as capital investment and the like required to avoid such events. The present invention provides a process for preparing pharmaceutical solid preparations without use of organic solvents frequently used in conventional solvent methods.

Abstract: Provided is an enteric coating technique capable of carrying out enteric coating without using an organic solvent and without causing a spray gun to clog, while keeping a equipment cost low. More specifically, from a spray gun comprising a nozzle for spraying an enteric polymer dispersion and/or solution and a nozzle for spraying a plasticizer solution, these solutions are sprayed simultaneously and separately through the nozzles. A mixture of these solutions thus obtained during spraying is applied to a preparation.

Abstract: Provided is an enteric coating technique capable of carrying out enteric coating without using an organic solvent and without causing a spray gun to clog, while keeping a equipment cost low. More specifically, from a spray gun comprising a nozzle for spraying an enteric polymer dispersion and/or solution and a nozzle for spraying a plasticizer solution, these solutions are sprayed simultaneously and separately through the nozzles. A mixture of these solutions thus obtained during spraying is applied to a preparation.

Abstract: An aqueous coating composition comprising hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose trimellitate typically having a mean particle size of up to 10 &mgr;m and a plasticizer is applied to a solid pharmaceutical preparation to form a coating film having acid resistance and solubility at about pH 4. The coated preparation has an improved bioavailability.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solid preparation coated with a non-solvent coating which is prepared by feeding a polymeric powder directly as coating agent while continuously spraying a solid medicine with an atomized mixture of a liquid substance, which has a contact angle against the polymer coating agent of 10 degrees or less, and a plasticizer. A method of manufacturing a dry-coated solid preparation in which a solid preparation, coated with a non-solvent coating, is treated by adding or spraying an atomized water or an aqueous solution of a water soluble substance in the amount of 1-10 wt % of the solid preparation to wet said "coating layer" followed by drying.

Abstract: The present invention provides a powdery starting material for preparing a drug-coating solution, which has high safety as a drug component and is very rapidly dissolved in room temperature water upon preparation of a coating solution. The powdery starting material for preparing a drug-coating solution comprises hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and/or methyl cellulose particles having an average particle size ranging from 200 to 1000 .mu.m and whose content of particles having a particle size of 75 .mu.m or smaller is not more than 30% by weight. More preferably, the viscosity of a 2% by weight aqueous solution of the powdery starting material as determined at room temperature ranges from 2 to 60 cP and preferably 2 to 20 cP.

Abstract: A cast-iron product has a composition of 4.3-4.9 wt. % Carbon Equivalent (CE), 0.25-0.5 wt. % Chromium (Cr), 0.05-0.12 wt. % Tin (Sn), 0.4-1.2 wt. % Manganese (Mn), 0-0.1 wt. % Phosphorus (P), and 0-0.15 wt. % Sulfur (S), with the balance being Iron (Fe). A brake assembly comprises a sliding element made of such a cast iron, and the sliding element is adapted to slideably contact with a friction element or elements made of non-asbestos material and constitute the assembly. Further, a method of producing a cast iron product comprises the steps of casting a cast iron having a composition of 4.3-4.9 wt. % Carbon Equivalent (CE), 0.25-0.5 wt. % Chromium (Cr), 0.05-0.12 wt. % Tin (Sn), 0.4-1.2 wt. % Manganese (Mn), 0-0.1 wt. % Phosphorus (P), and 0-0.15 wt. % Sulfur (S), with the balance being Iron (Fe), releasing a mold at a temperature not less than A.sub.1 allotropic transformation temperature, and cooling the cast iron at a relatively high cooling rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing capsules which causes a solution of thermo-gelling material to gelatinize, and then drys the gel, whereby the process of manufacturing capsules is less affected by drying conditions, thus providing capsules of uniform wall thickness without wrinkles. In the apparatus of this invention, circulating capsule pins are dipped in the solution of thermo-gelling material, thus the solution adheres to the pins, and, the pins are rotated upside down, thus thickness of the solution adhering to the pins becomes uniform. Then, the pins are retained in the vessel maintained at a higher temperature than the gelling temperature of the solution, and the solution adhering to the pins is accelerated to gelatinization. The formed gel is dried in a drying device, and the dried gel bodies, i.e. capsules, are removed from the capsule pins.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing capsules causes the solution of thermo-gelling material to gelatinize once, and then drys the gel. Therefore the process of manufacturing capsules is less affected by drying conditions, thus providing capsules of uniform wall thickness without wrinkle. In the apparatus, circulating capsule pins are dipped in the solution of thermo-gelling material, thus the solution adheres to the pins. The pins are rotated upside down, thus thickness of the solution adhering to the pins becoming uniform. Then the pins are retained in the vessel maintained at a higher temperature than the gelling temperature of the solution, and the solution adhering to the pins is gelatinized. The thus-formed gel is dried through a drying device, and the dried gel, i.e. capsules, is removed from capsule pins.

Abstract: In place of gelatin conventionally used as a material for shaping hard medicinal capsules, the invention proposes a hard capsule for medicinal use shaped of a polymer blend of a water-soluble cellulose ether, e.g., alkyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose and alkyl hydroxyalkyl cellulose, and a polyvinyl alcohol in a weight ratio of 70:30 to 98:2. The inventive hard medicinal capsules have remarkably low permeability to oxygen and moisture with little influences on the medicament contained therein along with sufficiently high mechanical strengths and are much more stable than conventional gelatin-made capsules against the influences of the ambient conditions, such as, the crack formation unavoidable in a gelatin-made hard capsule when it is kept under an extremely low humidity.