Autohesion in Pharmaceutical Solids

Autohesion is a diffusion controlled mechanism that can be utilized to explain how high molecular weight polymers interact. This mechanism finds its origin in the rubber and plastics industries and has been briefly alluded to in the pharmaceutical literature only in the area concerning film coating of solid dosage forms. Since many pharmaceutical dosage forms contain high molecular weight polymers in their formulations, this review will attempt to introduce the concept and the factors that affect it to the pharmaceutics area. An understanding of autohesion may assist the developer in producing solid dosage forms with desired strength and release characteristics.