Application of Polymer in Pharmaceutical Dosage Form

Solid Dosage Form

Tablet

In tablet manufacture polymers are frequently used as binders and disintegrants. Binder are
materials that act as adhesive to bind the powders together during wet granulation. This process
facilitates reproducible compression of the granulated powder into tablets. Example of common
binding agents are starch, gelatin, PVP, EC and HPMC. Disintegrants are include in many tablet
formulations to initiate the disintegration of the tablet so that the surface area of the tablet
fragment is increased and drug released rapidly. This process of disintegration occurs due to
extensive polymer swelling following contact with biological fluids. Examples of polymeric
disintegrants include starch, PVP and sodium CMC.

Capsules

Capsules are solid dosage forms that are generally composed of gelation and which, dependent on
the composition, may be categorised as either hard capsules or soft capsules. The gelatin capsule is
filled with the active ingredients and additionally, diluents or filllers. To assist with the de-
aggregation of the capsule contents in the gastrointestinal fluids, various starch derivatives such as
pre-gelatinised starch and sodium starch glycolate are added to the capsule contents.

Film Coating of Solid Dosage Form

Coating tablets with a thin polymeric film is commonly performed to modify drug release, mask the
taste of therapeutic agents, to enhance stability of the drug within gastrointestinal fluids or may be
used for purely aesthetics reasons. The film is usually 10-100 µm thick and is composed of at least
one polymer, a plasticiser, when required, other minor additives such as colorants and opacifiers. In
situation where the tablets may be brittle and/or exhibit poor handling characteristics, polymeric
film coating possessing a high modulus of elasticity and high tensile strength may be used to improve
tablet strength.

Disperse Systems

Disperse systems such as emulsion and suspension are prone to various forms of instability such as
segregation, coalescence and caking, which may lead to inaccurate dose. To enhance the physical
stability and clinical performance of these systems it is necessary to include a range of
pharmaceutical excipients, including surfactants, electrolytes and polymers, the latter being used to
control the reological characteristics and the rate of sedimentation. Example of polymer that
commonly used are alginates, carrageenan, xanthan gum, cellulose ethers, PVP and PVA.
Gels

Gels are polymeric system in which the presence of physical or chemical crosslink between the
adjacent polymer chain mobility, that’s enhance the rheological structure. Chemically crosslinked
gels are commonly referred to as hydrogenols and have been used extensively within the medical
device industry as hydrophilic, biocompatible coationgs and, additionally, due to their ability to
absorb large quantities of aqueous fluid, as wound dressings. Within the pharmaceutical industry
physically crosslinked gels are primarily used as drugs deliver platform example for the local delivery
of drugs to the skin, oral cavity, vagina, and rectum.

Transdermal Drugs Delivery Systems (Pathes)

This system used for controlled delivery of therapeutic agents across the skin to the systemic
circulation in several clinical applications such as pain management, cessation of smoking, treatment
of heart disease and hormone replacement. Pharmaceutical polymer form an integral part of the
protective outer covering to protect the dosage form from external damage. There may be a layer in
which the drug is dispersed/dissolved within a polymeric matrix, which acts to control drug release
to the skin.