Effect of polymer ratio on the quality of a co-processed excipient of prosopis gum and crab shell chitosan

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the effect of polymer ratio on the quality of a novel co-processed excipient of prosopis gum and crab shell chitosan. Methods: The physicochemical properties (DSC thermogram, powder flow properties, porosity and swelling index as well as pH, viscosity and adhesive strength of 2 % w⁄v dispersions) of prosopis gum, chitosan and the three grades of co-processed excipient of prosopis gum and crab shell chitosan (Prosochit® 201, Prosochit® 101 and Prosochit® 102) were determined. Results: The three grades of the co-processed excipient of prosopis gum and crab shell chitosan (Prosochit®) were characterized by one endothermic transition each with peaks at 180 o C, 179 o C and 178 o C for Prosochit®201, Prosochit®101 and Prosochit®102 respectively. Flow properties increased with increase in proportion of chitosan. The porosity of the three grades of the new excipient was not significantly different from that of prosopis gum. Swelling indices of prosopis gum, chitosan, Prosochit® 201, Prosochit® 101 and Prosochit® 102 were 1135.53%, 14.00%, 726.33%, 677.33% and 514.00% respectively. The viscosity also decreased with increase in the proportion of chitosan. The new excipient had higher adhesive strength compared to the individual constituents (prosopis gum and crab shell chitosan). Conclusion: Prosochit® is superior to its individual constituents as a tableting excipient but its suitability for liquid formulation is reduced by increase in the proportion of chitosan.

Prosochit®-based nanoparticulate system of insulin for oral delivery: design, formulation, and characterization

“…The materials used include PC201, PC101, and PC102 as well as PRG from Prosopis africana seeds and CTS from Callinectes gladiator shells, all prepared as described by Olorunsola (2017). Other materials used are soluble insulin powder from bovine pancreas (Lot No.…”

“…The broad nature of the single endotherm in Figure 1c with no new peak being formed within the region is an indication that there was no observed adverse interaction between insulin and Prosochit ® . The appearance of an exothermic transition with a peak at 235°C is an indication of polymer degradation (Olorunsola et al, 2016). Since such transition was not observed in the thermogram of the pure Prosochit ® , it can be inferred that the presence of insulin hastened the degradation of Prosochit ® .…”

“…However, one of the O n l i n e F i r s t drawbacks of using absorption enhancers is that some of them such as bile salts and nonionic surfactants have intrinsic toxicity (Salama et al, 2006;Swenson et al, 1994). On the contrary, chitosan, a natural linear biopolyaminosaccharide, has been shown to be a safe absorption enhancer (Kumar et al, 2004;Olorunsola et al, 2016;Zuorro et al, 2021).…”

“…Natural polymers such as Prosopis gum (PRG) and chitosan (CTS) have several advantages over synthetic ones because of their low cost, nontoxicity, biodegradability, and availability. While PRG has been used for controlled drug delivery and for inhibiting drug release at the gastric pH (Nadaf et al, 2015;Olorunsola et al, 2017), CTS has been used to enhance intestinal absorption (Kos et al, 2008).…”

“…Prosochit ® 201 (PC201) is a composite of 66.67% PRG and 33.33% crab shell CTS, Prosochit ® 101 (PC101) is a composite of equal proportions of the two polymers while Prosochit ® 102 (PC102) is a composite of 33.33% PRG and 66.67% crab shell CTS. These excipients have been investigated for oral tablet formulation of hydrochlorothiazide, with PC201 used at 3% binder concentration producing the best result (Olorunsola et al, 2021).…”