Hypromellose ：used in medicine, cosmetics, and food industries

Hypromellose (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or HPMC) is used in various industries, including medicine, cosmetics, and food. Here’s a brief overview of its applications in each of these sectors:

1. Medicine:
   • Pharmaceutical Excipient: HPMC is widely used as an excipient in pharmaceutical formulations, particularly in tablet coatings, controlled-release matrices, and ophthalmic solutions. It helps to control drug release, improve drug stability, and enhance patient compliance.
   • Ophthalmic Solutions: In ophthalmic preparations, HPMC is used as a lubricant and viscosity-enhancing agent in eye drops and ointments. It helps to retain moisture on the ocular surface, providing relief for dry eyes and improving ocular drug delivery.
2. Cosmetics:
   • Personal Care Products: HPMC is used in various cosmetics and personal care products, including creams, lotions, gels, shampoos, and hair styling products. It serves as a thickener, stabilizer, emulsifier, and film-forming agent, imparting desirable texture, consistency, and performance to these formulations.
   • Hair Care Products: In hair care products such as shampoos and conditioners, HPMC helps to improve viscosity, enhance foam stability, and provide conditioning benefits. It can also help to increase the thickness and volume of hair products without leaving a heavy or greasy residue.
3. Food:
   • Food Additive: While not as common as in medicine and cosmetics, HPMC is also used as a food additive in certain applications. It is approved for use as a thickener, stabilizer, emulsifier, and film-forming agent in food products such as sauces, soups, desserts, and baked goods.
   • Gluten-Free Baking: In gluten-free baking, HPMC can be used as a substitute for gluten to improve the texture, moisture retention, and shelf life of gluten-free products. It helps to mimic the viscoelastic properties of gluten, resulting in better dough handling and baked product quality.

Hypromellose (HPMC) is a versatile ingredient with widespread applications in medicine, cosmetics, and food industries. Its multifunctional properties make it valuable for formulating a variety of products in these sectors, contributing to their performance, stability, and consumer appeal.