Effect of nicotinamide on the properties of aqueous HPMC solutions

The effect of nicotinamide on the properties of aqueous hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) solutions was studied. Rheological studies showed that solutions of HPMC of concentration less than 3.0 w/v.% did not form gels and exhibited Newtonian flow patterns at 25 degrees C. The inclusion of nicotinamide increased the viscosity of HPMC solutions, which indicates that nicotinamide expanded the HPMC coils in aqueous solution. When the temperature of the solutions was raised, they formed gels that were detected by viscometry and oscillation tests as abrupt increases in viscosity, storage modulus and loss modulus and an abrupt decrease in loss angle. Nicotinamide exhibited a salting in effect on the HPMC solutions resulting in an increase in gelation temperatures and cloud points. These effects are considered to be due to the hydrogen-bonding of nicotinamide to HPMC molecules, which was suggested by a shift to a longer wavelength of the UV spectra of aqueous nicotinamide solutions by the addition of HPMC. These results suggested that nicotinamide has affinity with the hydrophilic groups of HPMC.