Review Article | Volume: 4, Issue: 10, October, 2014

Surface activity as basis for pharmaceutical applications of hydrocolloids: A review

Emmanuel O. Olorunsola Musiliu O. Adedokun   

Open Access   

Published:  Oct 30, 2014

DOI: 10.7324/JAPS.2014.401020
Abstract

Hydrocolloids are polymeric substances with mild to moderate surface activity. They are widely used as excipients in drug delivery systems where they serve various purposes such as suspending, emulsifying, wetting, foaming, solubilizing, stabilizing and bioadhesive agents as well as permeation enhancers. The surface activity and pharmaceutical applications of some hydrocolloids were reviewed in this study. The review showed that most natural hydrocolloids are characterized by higher critical micelle concentrations (CMC) compared to semi-synthetic and synthetic ones. Cashew and khaya gums (exudates gums) with hydrophile – lipophile balance (HLB) values in the range of 15 - 18 possess solubilizing property. Dispersions of afzelia and prosopis gums (seed gums) have higher viscosity compared to acacia gum and may produce more stable disperse systems. Semi-synthetic and synthetic hydrocolloids like sodium carboxyl methylcellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidone are characterized by low CMC and exhibit very high surface elasticity at concentrations above CMC thus exhibiting high bioadhesive strength. Therefore, surface activity is the basis for most pharmaceutical applications of hydrocolloids and the application of individual hydrocolloid depends on its adsorption power, CMC, HLB value and bioadhesive strength.


Keyword:     Hydrocolloidspharmaceutical applications surface activity.


Citation:

Olorunsola EO, Adedokun MO. Surface activity as basis for pharmaceutical applications of hydrocolloids: A review. J App Pharm Sci, 2014; 4 (10): 110-116.

Copyright:The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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