Collagen, a protein, if cleaned incorrectly, could leave behind hidden residues that will potentially cause microbial contamination
Collagen is a versatile protein used in formulations ranging from skin-care cosmetics to body-care protein supplements.
Being water-insoluble, cleaning of Collagen residues left behind in the equipment of the production facility, along with other excipients in the formulation could be difficult.
The most common cleaning method employed for such soil is using a strong alkaline cleaner with a surfactant that would break down the protein structure and emulsify the formulation. And the most recurrent issue with this cleaning is the hidden residue that it could leave behind. The invisible protein film could be a substrate for microbial growth and the cause of product contamination.
It is very important to choose a cleaning agent designed to work on Collagen in the matrix of other excipients to effectively and consistently clean the equipment without leaving behind any residue. Dober can help you identify the cleaning needs of a formulation and work with you to develop an optimized cleaning process with the right cleaning detergent like Simply Better® HD
This bright yellow quarternary ammonium salt has low water solubility and the tendency to stain surfaces or leave behind haze when cleaned with general nutraceutical cleaners.
Berberine is widely used in various health supplements but is most commonly used as a natural dye due to its high color index. This means that the residue it leaves behind on processing equipment is tough to clean.
Due to its low water solubility and highly pigmented nature, Berberine cleaner should have the capability to dissolve or disperse this compound as well as other excipients that might be present in the mixture or formulation and keep them in solution or suspension until the cleaning cycle is complete to avoid re-deposition.
By using general nutraceutical cleaners that do not address the staining and haze caused by Berberine, heavy manual scrubbing needs to be done to have a surface free of the color.
After conducting studies at our lab, Dober identified Simply Better® HD to be the best cleaner for this brightly colored residue, as it left no stain or haze behind and cleaned the residue consistently and effectively
On contact with water, Agar swells, forming a stubborn, sticky residue that requires lengthy manual scrubbing steps to clean
As a vegan substitute for Gelatin, Agar is widely used in the food and nutraceutical industry.
Agar is a mixture of polysaccharides and pectin, making it hydrophilic. It absorbs water and swells, making it an excellent thickening agent but a substance that is hard to clean.
Manual cleaning needs to be performed to ensure thorough cleaning as improper cleaning could lead to microbial contamination, as agar is an excellent substrate for microorganisms. It is also possible that the manual cleaning itself is the cause of an increased bioburden.
Automated cleaning of Agar residue is tough as the soil would come out as large chunks that wouldn't easily disintegrate, causing blockage and redeposition throughout the equipment and the CIP system.
Dober's Chematic® 722 formulated detergent was found to easily break down the residue and disperse it evenly throughout the detergent solution, thus avoiding blockages and redeposition, making it ideal for automated cleaning as well as manual cleaning with minimum manual intervention.
Coating formulations used for Nutraceutical tablets and pills are generally not easy to clean due to the polymers and pigments used. The problem intensifies when sustained or delayed-release coating residues are to be cleaned.
Coatings are used in Nutraceutical formulations mainly for aesthetic purposes, however, at times, they also have functions such as modified release. The pigments and dyes used for brand identity and the polymers used for functional coatings need customized cleaning agents to avoid improper cleaning or lengthy cleaning procedures.
Coatings such as Shellac, methacrylate polymers, HPMC, PVA, etc have different chemistries and need appropriate cleaning solutions to ensure effective cleaning without manual scrubbing. Polymers teamed up with dyes or pigments need a cleaning agent that will dissolve the polymer as well as hold the pigment in suspension to avoid haze formation.
Dober has conducted several cleaning trials with Nutraceutical coatings such as Shellac, Evonik's Eudraguard series, and Colorcon's Nutrafinish series. Although it would have been ideal to have a single cleaning agent for all coating residues, it was observed that the Chematic® grade and cleaning procedure that would give the most efficient cleaning varied based on the core polymer and other excipients used.
