A new cellulose excipient, OCCAE, suitable for use as a binder, filler,
and/or disintegrant in the development of solid dosage forms and as a
bodying agent or a drug carrier in the preparation of topical
formulations is described. The cellulose excipient is formed by reacting
an oxidized cellulose ester with an alcohol in the presence of a
catalyst. The invention also describes the formation of controlled
release microspheres using OCCAE and/or oxidized cellulose esters that
may be used to control the release of drug in a patient over a time
period of several hours to several days.
