Xanthan gum in drug release

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Controlled drug release is crucial for effective therapeutic outcomes across multiple administration routes.
• Natural polymers are increasingly explored as excipients to improve drug formulation properties.
• Xanthan gum, a bacterial polysaccharide, possesses favorable physicochemical characteristics for drug delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the chemical properties of xanthan gum.
• To elucidate the role of xanthan gum in modifying drug release.
• To present the current research landscape of xanthan gum in pharmaceutical formulations.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of xanthan gum's chemical properties and applications.
• Analysis of xanthan gum's function in drug release modulation.
• Survey of recent studies on xanthan gum in tablets, films, hydrogels, and nanoformulations.

Main Results:

• Xanthan gum exhibits beneficial properties like improved stability, adhesiveness, solubility, and retention time.
• It has shown promise in drug delivery systems for antiviral, antibacterial, transdermal, vaginal, and anticancer applications.
• Research highlights its utility in diverse dosage forms, including advanced nanoformulations.

Conclusions:

• Xanthan gum is a versatile natural polymer with significant potential in pharmaceutical drug delivery.
• Its application can optimize drug release profiles and enhance formulation performance.
• Further research into xanthan gum-based formulations is warranted for various therapeutic areas.