Processes for making reduced molecular weight ethersuccinylated polysaccharides, for example ethersuccinylated starches are provided.

A hair fixative composition includes at least one carboxylated cellulose ether based polyglucose polymer, an alcohol based solvent system, and a cosmetically acceptable additive, wherein the polyglucose polymer is soluble in the alcohol based solvent system. The polyglucose polymer is obtained by reacting at least one cellulose ether with at least one anhydride.

A hair fixative composition includes at least one carboxylated cellulose ether based polyglucose polymer, an alcohol based solvent system, and a cosmetically acceptable additive, wherein the polyglucose polymer is soluble in the alcohol based solvent system. The polyglucose polymer is obtained by reacting at least one cellulose ether with at least one anhydride.

Provided are a composition for hot-melt extrusion which can be hot-melt extruded at a temperature lower than a conventional temperature and therefore free of heat-induced deactivation of a drug; and a method for producing a hot-melt extrusion product which is simpler than a spray-drying method. More specifically, provided is a composition for hot-melt extrusion including a drug and hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) having a hydroxypropoxy molar substitution of 0.40 or more. Also provided is a method for producing a hot-melt extrusion product including a step of hot-melt extruding a composition for hot-melt extrusion including a drug and hypromellose acetate succinate having a hydroxypropoxy molar substitution of 0.40 or more at a hot-melt temperature of melting temperature of the hypromellose acetate succinate or higher, or at a hot-melt temperature equal to or higher than a temperature at which both the hypromellose acetate succinate and the drug become melted.

Provided are a composition for hot-melt extrusion which can be hot-melt extruded at a temperature lower than a conventional temperature and therefore free of heat-induced deactivation of a drug; and a method for producing a hot-melt extrusion product which is simpler than a spray-drying method. More specifically, provided is a composition for hot-melt extrusion including a drug and hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) having a hydroxypropoxy molar substitution of 0.40 or more. Also provided is a method for producing a hot-melt extrusion product including a step of hot-melt extruding a composition for hot-melt extrusion including a drug and hypromellose acetate succinate having a hydroxypropoxy molar substitution of 0.40 or more at a hot-melt temperature of melting temperature of the hypromellose acetate succinate or higher, or at a hot-melt temperature equal to or higher than a temperature at which both the hypromellose acetate succinate and the drug become melted.

Esterified cellulose ethers which comprise (i) groups of the formula C(O)RCOOA or (ii) a combination of aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula C(O)RCOOA, wherein R is a divalent aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group and A is hydrogen or a cation, which have a viscosity of up 50 mPa.Math.s, measured as a 10 wt % solution of the esterified cellulose ether in acetone at 20 C., and a weight average molecular weight M.sub.w of at least 220,000 Dalton, or which have a viscosity of up 100 mPa.Math.s, measured as a 10 wt % solution of the esterified cellulose ether in acetone at 20 C., and a weight average molecular weight M.sub.w of at least 310,000 Dalton are useful for preparing solid dispersions comprising drugs.

Esterified cellulose ethers which comprise (i) groups of the formula C(O)RCOOA or (ii) a combination of aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula C(O)RCOOA, wherein R is a divalent aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group and A is hydrogen or a cation, which have a viscosity of up 50 mPa.Math.s, measured as a 10 wt % solution of the esterified cellulose ether in acetone at 20 C., and a weight average molecular weight M.sub.w of at least 220,000 Dalton, or which have a viscosity of up 100 mPa.Math.s, measured as a 10 wt % solution of the esterified cellulose ether in acetone at 20 C., and a weight average molecular weight M.sub.w of at least 310,000 Dalton are useful for preparing solid dispersions comprising drugs.

There are provided HPMCAS (hypromellose acetate succinate) having such a property that a solution of the HPMCAS in a solvent has a controlled viscosity; and a method for producing the HPMCAS. More specifically, provided are HPMCAS having such property that a solution of 10 parts by weight of the HPMCAS in 100 parts by weight of a mixed solvent having a weight ratio of methylene chloride to methanol of 1:1 has a viscosity at 20? C. of 135 mPa.Math.s or less; and a method for producing the HPMCAS including an esterification step of adding acetic anhydride and succinic anhydride to a solution of hypromellose in glacial acetic acid in the presence of sodium acetate to obtain a reaction product mixture, wherein the succinic anhydride is added intermittently, and a precipitation step of mixing the reaction product mixture with water to precipitate the HPMCAS.

Provided are hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) which exhibits high solubility and can suppress generation of undissolved materials when dissolved in a solvent; an HPMCAS-containing composition; and a method for producing the HPMCAS. More specifically, provided are HPMCAS having a ratio of 2-position MS to 3-position MS of 1.2 or less, wherein the 2-position MS means a molar substitution of hydroxypropyl group by which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group on 2-position carbon of each glucose unit of the HPMCAS has been directly replaced, and the 3-position MS means a molar substitution of hydroxypropyl group by which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group on 3-position carbon of each glucose unit of the HPMCAS has been directly replaced; a composition comprising the HPMCAS and a solvent; and the method for producing the HPMCAS.

Provided are hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) which exhibits high solubility and can suppress generation of undissolved materials when dissolved in a solvent; an HPMCAS-containing composition; and a method for producing the HPMCAS. More specifically, provided are HPMCAS having a ratio of 2-position MS to 3-position MS of 1.2 or less, wherein the 2-position MS means a molar substitution of hydroxypropyl group by which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group on 2-position carbon of each glucose unit of the HPMCAS has been directly replaced, and the 3-position MS means a molar substitution of hydroxypropyl group by which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group on 3-position carbon of each glucose unit of the HPMCAS has been directly replaced; a composition comprising the HPMCAS and a solvent; and the method for producing the HPMCAS.