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Scleroglucan: a versatile polysaccharide for modified drug delivery
Tommasina Coviello1, Antonio Palleschi, Mario Grassi
1Department of Chemistry and Technology of Biologically Active Compounds, University of Rome La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy. tommasina.coviello@uniroma1.it
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 17, 2007
Summary
Scleroglucan, a fungal polysaccharide, is explored for pharmaceutical applications, particularly in creating modified-release drug delivery systems like sustained-release tablets and ocular formulations.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Scleroglucan is a natural polysaccharide derived from Sclerotium fungi.
- It possesses diverse commercial applications and pharmacological properties.
- This review specifically examines its pharmaceutical potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the use of scleroglucan and its derivatives in pharmaceutical formulations.
- To focus on the development of modified-release dosage forms.
- To explore novel applications and drug release mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing investigations on scleroglucan in drug delivery.
- Analysis of sustained-release tablets and ocular formulations.
- Examination of oxidized, crosslinked, and co-crosslinked scleroglucan systems.
- Investigation of scleroglucan-borate hydrogels using conformational analysis and molecular dynamics.
Main Results:
- Scleroglucan is suitable for sustained-release tablets and ocular formulations.
- Modified scleroglucan forms matrices for environmentally sensitive dosage forms.
- Co-crosslinked scleroglucan/gellan systems show ion-dependent drug release.
- Scleroglucan-borate hydrogels exhibit unique network structures.
Conclusions:
- Scleroglucan and its derivatives are versatile materials for modified-release drug delivery.
- Drug release mechanisms primarily involve swelling and diffusion.
- Mathematical modeling aids in understanding polymer behavior and drug release kinetics.
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