Ramesh G. Katedeshmukh, Adhikrao V. Yadav
Until now numerous oral controlled drug delivery systems have been developed to prolong drug release. The crucial point in this respect is that the drug has to be absorbed well throughout the whole gastrointestinal tract. Chitosan, a linear binary heteropolysaccharide, composed of β-1, 4-linked glucosamine (GlcN) with various degrees of N-acetylation of GlcN residues. It is a non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable natural polymer of high molecular weight (~500,000 kDa). Chitosan is prepared by alkaline N-deacetylation of chitin using concentrated sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions at high temperature for a long period of time. The degree of deacetylation (DD) and molecular weight (MW) are two fundamental parameters that can affect the properties and functionality of chitosan. Hydrophilic polymers are widely used in controlled release systems due to their favorable functionality. Enhancing the mobility of the polymer chains and diffusing of the drug out from such polymer matrices could be done by inclusion of different types of excipients at different concentrations. The present manuscript describes the attempt made to investigate the influence of the excipient type on matrix hydration, erosion and drug release from matrix systems with a highly soluble excipients and water-insoluble excipients and varying concentration of chitosan A (20% & 30%).
Key words: Matrix systems, chitosan A, Aceclofenac, MCC, drug release.