Wurster fluid bed coating has been used for numerous purposes, including improved stability or shelf life; controlled, sustained, or delayed release; taste or odor masking; dust control; safety; minor component content uniformity to a carrier or a major formulation component; improved flow characteristics; and many other applications.

Pharmaceutical

Coating of pharmaceuticals can help ensure stability and prolong the shelf life of reactive ingredients. Coating is an effective way of masking the taste or odor of a particular drug to make a palatable product. Delayed, enteric, sustained, or extended-release can be achieved with the application of coatings on drug-containing beads, pellets, or particles. Capsules can be coated to improve capsule barrier or release properties.

Chemical

Coatings of chemicals can provide controlled or delayed release properties, change absorption or surface properties, or isolate an active chemical in a mixture. The Wurster process can use a wide variety of coating materials permitting great flexibility in product design.

Food

The Wurster process is used to encapsulate vitamins, minerals, and functional food ingredients. Food ingredients can be coated to mask an undesirable flavor or to improve stability and shelf life. Thin or partial coatings are very effective in reducing the caking of certain materials. Extended-release of flavors in products such as chewing gum can be achieved using the Wurster fluid bed coating process.

Animal Nutrition

Nutrients, medicines, and other additives can be taste-masked to improve palatability for animals. Medications can be stabilized by protective coatings. Coatings can also be used to control the release after ingestion.

Agriculture

Seeds can be coated for easier handling by increasing their size and allowing them to be planted by machines. Coating can contain pesticides and/or nutrients to improve germination and crop yields. Rodenticides can be coated to provide taste masking and controlled release properties.