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Excipients, What’s New?

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Pharmaceutical Excipients Take Centre Stage!

Once seen as a commodity, pharmaceutical excipients are now stepping firmly into the spotlight. The market is being reshaped by multifunctional, natural and nano-based excipients — all driven by the rise of complex APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients), innovative delivery systems, and the industry’s growing commitment to environmental and patient safety. At Surfachem, we’re proud to support you with the latest developments in this crucial space.

Multifunctional Excipients: Efficiency Through Innovation

Formulators under pressure to streamline development and cut manufacturing costs are increasingly turning to multifunctional excipients — ingredients designed to deliver several performance benefits in one. These may combine improved solubility, enhanced bioavailability and modified drug release within a single product. Typically derived from cellulose, starch, povidone and colloidal silica, these multifunctional blends — especially when co-processed — are gaining ground as the go-to solution for efficient, cost-effective formulations.

Natural Excipients: Sustainable and Safe

With sustainability high on the agenda, interest in natural, plant-based excipients is rising. Sourced from renewable materials, these ingredients not only support environmental goals but also offer strong patient safety credentials thanks to their biocompatibility. In topical therapies, they may even improve bioavailability. At Surfachem, our applications laboratory is actively evaluating a range of promising natural candidates to help you stay ahead of the curve.

Nano-Excipients: Unlocking API Potential

For today’s increasingly complex APIs — which often suffer from poor solubility or instability — nano-excipients offer a powerful solution. These include liposomes, micelles, dendrimers and polymeric nanoparticles, all designed to enhance dissolution and bioavailability. Even well-established excipients like polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are evolving, now forming the backbone of PEGylated nanoparticles and PEG-lipids — key components in lipid nanoparticles used across everything from analgesics and immunosuppressants to mRNA vaccines.

Meeting the Challenge, Together

From sustainable sourcing to advanced functionality, the excipient landscape is evolving fast — and staying ahead means making smart, informed choices. That’s why we work closely with our supplier network to help your company navigate these shifts and find the right solutions for your formulations. We call it Intelligent Distribution.

 

Find Out More

For more information on Excipients and our Intelligent Distribution, please contact us or send us an email at info@surfachem.com

References

This article was written by Chris Gould Pharmaceutical Consultant using the following texts:

Friday, 18 July 2025

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