pharmaceutical coatings in the form of aqueous dispersion of a water insoluble polymer prepared by dissolving the polymer in a water immiscible organic solvent , emulsifying the organic solution in water , optionally with the aid of additives , and stripping the organic solvent from the system to provide a colloidal , or near colloidal , aqueous dispersion or latex of small , even sized polymeric particles which are applied to pharmaceutical dosages from highly loaded latices . the latexes , which display resistance to bacterial and mold growth and , when combined with selected additives , provides convenient , attractive coating compositions which afford excellent protection and varied release properties to pharmaceutical dosages .