BINDERS OR BINDING AGENTS
These Agents are added either in dry form or in wet form during wet granulation to form granules or to
promote the cohesive compacts for directly compressed tablets. They also improve free flowing qualities
by formation of granules of desired hardness and size which are compressed to give tablets.
Examples of Binders
1) Natural gum: Acacia, Tragacanth
2) Derivates of cellulose: HPMC, MC, EC
3) Synthetic Polymers: PVP, Polyacrylamides
4) Sugar solutions: Sucrose, Dextrose and Maltose
5) Protein: Gelatin
6) Others: Wax, water, starch & alcohol
Influence of Binders on Granules Properties
Granules strength and friability are most important as they affect changes in particle size, particle size
distribution and compressibility.
Mechanism of Binders
When binder is added to powder diluents mixtures in the form of slurry, suspension (or) solution, liquid
bridges are developed between the particles and tensile strength of their bonds get increased with the
amount of liquid present in binder. Surface tension forces and capillary pressures are primarily
responsible for granules strength and its formation.
After this step the excess of moisture content in binder is removed by drying to appropriate levels. In this
stage inter-particle bonds are resulted from fusion/re-crystallization and curing of binding agent with
vander-wall forces playing a significant role.
Binder Selection Considerations
1) Choosing binder (gums, polymers, etc.)
2) Quantity of binder to be used
3) Mode of use of binder
4) Binders strength (glucose > acacia > gelatin > simple syrup > starch)
5) Binders for moisture sensitive drug (PVP , HPMC, Polymethacrylates & Pre-gelatinised starch)
SOME COMMON BINDERS
Natural Gums such as acacia & tragacanth are much more effective when they are added as solutions in
the preparation of granules than when they are added dry to direct compression formula.
Disadvantage: Variable in their composition & performance based on their natural origin. They are
heavily contaminated with bacteria and give moderate hardness to tablet.
Gelatin is a natural protein and is used sometimes in combination with acacia. Gelatin solutions are
needed to be used in hot state because at room temperature they exhibit gelling tendency. It also forms
tablets equally as hard as acacia or tragacanth.
Advantage over Natural Gums: More consistent material; they are easier to prepare in solution form.
Modified Natural Polymers such as alginates and cellulose derivatives (HPMC, MC, CMC) are
common binders and adhesives. If used dry for direct compression, then have binder capabilities. But
their aqueous solutions have adhesive properties. The granules prepared with CMC are soft but the tablets
tend to harden with time. It also interacts with Mg, Ca and Al compounds.
Synthetic Polymers like PVP are used in the form of 3-15% solutions in alcohol. The resultant granules
have a very small drying time and exhibit good compressibility. It is particularly recommended for
granulation of moisture-sensitive multivitamin chewable tablets and for effervescent tablets. They are
high in cost that is considered as their drawback.
Starch is used as binding agent in wet granulation in the form of paste (5-10%). For preparation of starch
paste, heat is used. During heating it undergoes partial hydrolysis to dextrin and to glucose. This paste
produces cohesive tablets that readily disintegrate when formulated properly. Pre-gelatinized starch when
dissolved in warm water gives adhesive solution. Binding properties of pre-gelatinized starch are slightly
superior to non-gelatinized one.
Sugar is used in the form of syrups with 50-80% strengths. These are strong binders.
Commercial Products as Binders
For directly compressible tablets, following binders are used that are prepared commercially;
1) Avicel (ph 101) –MCC
2) SMCC (50)- SMCC
3) Uni Pure (DW) – Partially Pre- gelatinised Starch
4) Uni pure (LD) – Low density Starch
5) DC-Lactose – DC Lactose Anhydrous
The Commonly Used Binders with Their Concentration
Binders [Usual proportions as final formula (%), Concentration as solution (%)]
1) Acacia (2-5, 10-20 %).
2) Tragacanth (1-4, 3-10%).
3) HPMC (1-5, 2-10%).
4) Starch (pre-gelatinized) paste (2-25, 50-85%).
5) Gelatin (1-5, 5-10%).
6) Sorbitol (2-10, 10-25%).
7) PVP (2-5, 5-20%).
8) Polyacrylamides (2-5, 2-8%).
9) Polyethylene glycol ( 2-5, 10-20%).
10) Alginic Acid & its salt( 1-5, 5-20% )
