EVALUATION OF GUM SANDARAC AS A NOVEL RELEASE CONTROLLING POLYMER FOR SUSTAINED RELEASE MATRIX PELLETS

Abstract

Sustained release, prolonged action, extended action are the terms used to identify drug delivery system that are designed to achieve prolong therapeutic effect by continuously releasing medication over an extended period of time after administration of a single dose. Matrix systems, because of their ease of manufacture, their flexibility to obtain a desirable drug release profile, cost effectiveness, and broad regulatory acceptance are preferred for formulating these dosage forms. Polymers are the most important part in any type of release modified formulations. Predominantly hydrophobic materials are widely used to fabricate the matrix systems. Various materials are being investigated as polymers as there is scarcity of good polymeric materials to be used in pharmaceutical products. The present study was aimed at evaluating novel natural material gum sandarac, a resin obtained by incision from the stem of Callitris quadrivalvis, Ventenat (N.O. Coniferae) Pinaceae as a hydrophobic matrixing material for developing coated pellets for sustained release of drug and comparing it with well known ethyl cellulose as hydrophobic polymeric material.