WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

Rajeswari et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Scien

SJIF Impact Factor 6.647

Volume 6, Issue 8, 472-494Review ArticleISSN 2278 – 4357

NATURAL POLYMERS: A RECENT REVIEW

Saripilli Rajeswari1*, Teella Prasanthi1, Navya Sudha1, Ranjit Prasad Swain1, Satyajit
Panda2 and Vinusha Goka

1
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Maharajah’s College of Pharmacy, Phool
Baugh, Vizianagaram.
2
Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmacy and technology, Salepur, Cuttack,
Odisha.

Article Received on 31 May 2017, ABSTRACT

Revised on 21 June 2017,
Active ingredient and excipients are two main ingredients of any
Accepted on 12 July 2017
DOI: 10.20959/wjpps20178-9762 pharmaceutical formulation. Excipients help in the manufacturing of
dosage form as well as improve physicochemical parameters of the
dosage form. Polymers play a vital role in any dosage form as
excipients. The influencing capacity of polymers towards the drug
*Corresponding Author Dr. Saripilli release and should be compatible, non-toxic, and stable and economic
Rajeswari Department of
etc. They are broadly classified in three categories viz. natural
Pharmaceutical Technology,
polymers, semi-synthetic and synthetic polymers. Natural polymers are
Maharajah’s College of Pharmacy,
generally used as rate controlling agents, taste masking agents,
Phool Baugh, Vizianagaram.
protective and stabilizing agents in the oral drug delivery system. To
provide uniform drug delivery certain polymers are used to reduce the
frequency of dosing and to increase effectiveness of the drug by localization at the site of
action. Nowadays, due to many problems associated with drug release and side effects of
synthetic polymers, manufactureres are inclined towards using natural polymers. Natural
polymers being poly saccharides are biocompatible and without any side effects. Applications
of natural polymers in pharmacy are large in comparison to the synthetic polymers and have
wide scope in food and the cosmetic industry.

KEYWORDS: Active ingredients, food and the cosmetic industry.

INTRODUCTION[1,2]
A polymer is a large molecule (macromolecules) composed of repeating structural units.
These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds. Polymers are generally

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Rajeswari et World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
al.

classified as natural polymers, synthetic polymers and semi-synthetic polymers. Natural

polymers are materials of large molecular weights from natural origin such as plants, micro-
organisms and animals. In comparison to synthetic and semi-synthetic, natural polymers
remain attractive primarily because they are inexpensive, readily available, capable of
multitude of chemical modifications and potentially biodegradable and compatible due to
their origin. Natural polymers possess ample scope in drug, food and cosmetic industries.
Natural polymers are biogenic and their biological properties such as cell recognition and
interactions, enzymatic degradability, semblance to the extracellular matrix and their
chemical flexibility make them materials of choice for drug delivery.

Natural polymers These polymers are found in nature generally from plants and animals
sources. Such as proteins, cellulose, starch, resins, etc.

Semi-synthetic polymers These polymers are obtained from natural polymers by simple
chemical treatment to change the physical properties of natural polymers like starch,
silicones, etc.

Synthetic polymers The fibers which are synthesized in laboratory by polymerization of

simple chemical molecules are called synthetic polymers. Synthetic polymers such as Nylon,
polyethene, polystyrene, synthetic rubber, PVC, Teflon etc.

ORIGIN OF NATURAL POLYMER[1]

One reason why natural polymers have become an interest in undoubtedly because it can be
obtained from natural sources that are abundant and renewable also ease to get.
Polysaccharides are found in abundance in nature and are readily available from sources such
as algae (e.g. alginates), plants (e.g. pectin, guar gum, mannan), microbes (e.g. dextran,
xanthan gum) and animals (e.g. chitosan, chondroitin) and they can also be produced by
means of recombinant DNA techniques. Monosaccharide polymers have many favourable
properties such as high stability, nontoxicity, hydrophilicity, biodegradability, gel forming
properties and ease of chemical modification. An enormous variety in plant polysaccharide
structural composition exists, which is not only associated with different plants, but also with
the part of the plant that they originate from, such as the leaves, seeds, roots and tubers. The
complexity and variety of polysaccharides can be explained by two unique structural features:
firstly monosaccharides can be linked together in different ways and in an α- or β
configuration and secondly, due to the presence of branched side-chains.

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 PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF NATURAL POLYMERS[1]
Homogenecity/Polydispersity
Natural polymers such as proteins are rather uniform in size and there is no variation. Such
polymers are said to be homogeneous or monodisperse. Most of natural polymers are
naturally built by condensation polymerization. Natural polymers tend to be readily
biodegradable and they show no adverse effects on the environment or human beings.

IMPORTANCE OF HERBAL POLYMERS OVER SYNTHETIC POLYMERS[2,3,4]

Biodegradable
Naturally occurring polymers produced by all living organisms. They show no adverse
effects on the environment or human being. In contrary, synthetic polymers, being prepared
by the help of chemicals have side effect on atmosphere as well as on the human being.

Biocompatible and non-toxic

Chemically, nearly all of these plant materials are carbohydrates in nature and composed of
repeating monosaccharide units. Hence they are non-toxic as compared to synthetic
polymers.

Economic
Natural polymers are cheaper and their production cost is less than synthetic material.

Safe and devoid of side effects

They are found in a natural form and hence, safe and having no side effects whereas synthetic
polymers being prepared by using chemicals have side effects.

Easy availability
Natural polymers are growing in the form of herbs in many counties being economical than
synthetic polymers and having no side effect and keeping in view their huge application in
many industries, they are produced in large quantity hence their availability is ensured than
synthetic polymers.

DISADVANTAGES OF NATURAL POLYMERS[1,5,6]

1. Microbial contamination – During production, they are exposed to external environment
and hence, there are chances of microbial contamination.
2. Batch to batch variation – Synthetic manufacturing is controlled procedure with fixed
quantities of ingredients while production of natural polymers is dependent on
environment and various physical factors.
3. The uncontrolled rate of hydration - Due to differences in the collection of natural
materials at different times, as well as differences in region, species, and climate
conditions the percentage of chemical constituents present in a given material may vary.

CLASSIFICATION OF NATURAL POLYMERS

Natural polymers are classified in three main categories, such as.
 Plants origin
 Animal’s origin
 Microbes origin

Fig No. 1: Classification of natural polymers.

POLYSACCHARIDES FROM PLANT ORIGIN[4,6,7,8]

CELLULOSE

Fig. No. 2: Image of cellulose.

Composition
It is an organic polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten
thousand β (1→4) linked D-glucose units having the formula (C6H10O5)n. The plant cell wall
mainly consists of cellulose, hemicelluloses and pectin.

Applications
Microcrystalline cellulose is mainly used in the pharmaceutical industry as a diluent/binder in
tablets for both the granulation and direct compression processes. Carboxylated methyl
cellulose is used in drug formulations, as binder for drugs, film-coating agent for drugs,
ointment base etc. Cellulose acetate fibers are used in Wound dressings.

AGAR

Fig No. 3: Image of agar.

Source
Agar or agar-agar consists of dried gelatinous substance obtained from Gelidium amansi
(Gelidaceae) and it is also obtained from several other species of red algae like, gracilaria
(Gracilariaceae) and Pterocladia (Gelidaceae).

Composition
Agar consists of a mixture of agarose and agaropectin. The agarose is a linear polymer which
is made up of the repeating monomeric unit of agarobiose. Whereas, Agarobiose is a
disaccharide made up of D-galactose and 3, 6 - anhydro-L-galactopyranose. Agaropectin is a
heterogeneous mixture of smaller acidic molecules.

Applicatons
Agar is used as Suspending agent, emulsifying agent, gelling agent in suppositories, surgical
lubricant, tablet disintegrants, medium for bacterial culture, laxative. It is also used for the
preparation of jellies, confectionary items, tissue culture studies, and in microbiology study.
STARCHES

Fig No. 4: Image of Starchy foods.

Source
Starch is the principal carbohydrate reserved material in green plants and it is mainly present
in seeds and underground organs. Starch occurs in the form of granules (starch grains). A
number of starches are recognized for pharmaceutical use and these include maize (Zea
mays), rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and potato (Solanum tuberosum).

Composition
Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined
together by glycosidic bonds. It consists of two polymers, namely amylose (a non-branching
helical polymer consisting of α-1, 4 linked D-glucose monomers) and amylopectin (a highly
branched polymer consisting of both α-1,4 and α-1,6 linked D-glucose monomers).

Applications
Thermoplastic starch is used in packaging, containers, mulch films, textile sizing agents,
adhesives.

INULIN

Fig. No. 5: Image of insulin foods.

Source
It is a polysaccharide obtained from the bulbs of Dehlia, Inula Helenium (Compositae), roots
of Dendelion, Taraxacum officinale (Compositae). Burdock root, Saussurea lappa
(Compositae) or chicory roots, Cichonium intybus (Compositae).

Applications
Inulin with a high degree of polymerization was used to prepare biodegradable colon-specific
films in combination with Eudragit® RS that could withstand break down by the gastric and
intestinal fluids.

GUAR GUM

Fig. No. 6: Image of guar gum.

Source
Guar gum is also called guaran, clusterbean, Calcutta lucern, Gum cyamposis, and
Cyamopsis gum, Guarina, Glucotard and Guyarem. Guar gum is the powder of the
endosperm of the seeds of Cyamopsis tetragonolobus Linn. (Leguminosae).

Composition
Chemically, guar gum is natural polysaccharide composed of the sugars galactose and
mannose. It is a galactomannans which is a linear polysaccharide consisting of (1→4)-
diequatorially linked β-D- mannose monomers, some of which are linked to single sugar
sidechains of α-D-galactose attached. Guar gum has a backbone composed of β-1, 4 linked-
D-mannopyranoses to which, on average, every alternate mannose an α-D galactose is linked
1→6.

Applications
 Several modifications of guar gum is used for drug delivery system.
 Carboxymethyl guar film is used for the formulation of transdermal therapeutic system.
 Guar gum is particularly useful for colon delivery because it can be degraded by specific
enzymes in this region of the gastrointestinal tract. The gum protects the drug while in the
stomach and small intestine environment and delivers the drug to the colon where it
undergoes assimilation by specific microorganisms or degraded by the enzymes excreted
by these microorganisms.

POLYSACCHARIDES FROM ANIMAL ORIGIN

CHITIN

Fig. No. 7: Image of chitin.

Source
Chitin is the polysaccharide derivative containing amino and acetyl groups and are the most
abundant organic constituent in the skeletal material of the invertebrates. It is mainly found in
mollusks, annelids, arthropods. It is also a constituent of the mycelia and spores of many
fungi.

Applications
 Chitosan and their derivatives (N-trimethyl chitosan, mono-N-carboxymethyl chitosan)
are safe and effective absorption enhancers to improve mucosal, nasal, peroral drug
delivery of hydrophilic macromolecules such as peptide and protein drugs and heparins.
 Chitosan nanoparticles and microparticles are also suitable for controlled drug release.
XANTHAN GUM

Fig. No. 8: Image of xanthan gum.

Source
Xanthan gum is a high molecular weight extracellular polysaccharide produced by the
fermentation of the gram-negative bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.

Composition
The primary structure of naturally produced cellulose derivative contains a cellulose
backbone ( -D-glucose residues) and a trisaccharide side chain of D-mannose - D gluronic
acid -D-mannose attached with the main chain of alternate glucose residues.

Applications
 Xanthan gum is widely used in oral and topical formulations, cosmetics, and in food
industry as a suspending and stabilizing agent.
 It has also been used to prepare sustained release matrix tablets.

ALGINATE

Fig. No. 9: Image of alginate

Source
Alginate is a water-soluble linear polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed.

Composition
It is composed of 1–4 linked -L-glucuronic and –D - mannuronic acid residues.

Applications
 Alginate based mesalazine tablets are used for intestinal drug delivery system.
 Alginate is also as encapsulation materials for controlled drug delivery to mucosal tissue.
 It is also used to prepare mucoadhesive drug delivery systems.

PSYLLIUM

Fig. No. 10: Image of psyllium.

Source
Psyllium mucilage is obtained from the seed coat of Plantago ovata by milling the outer layer
of the seeds.

Applications
 It has tablet binding properties.
 Psyllium husk was used in combination with other excipients such as hydroxypropyl
methylcellulose to prepare a novel sustained release, swellable and bioadhesive gastro
retentive drug delivery systems for ofloxacin.
PROTEINS FROM ANIMAL SOURCES(9,10)
COLLAGEN

Fig. No. 11: Image of collagen.

Source
Collagen is the primary protein component of animal connective tissues. The most abundant
sources of collagen are pig skin, bovine hide and pork and cattle bones.

Composition
There are 27 types of collagen exist and composed of different polypeptides, which contain
mostly glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and lysine. The flexibility of the collagen chain
depends only on the glycine content.

Applications
 Collagen films are used in ophthalmology as drug delivery systems for slow release of
incorporated drugs.
 It was also used for tissue engineering including skin replacement, bone substitutes, and
artificial blood vessels and valves.

GELATIN

Fig. No. 12: Image of gelatin.

By denaturation and/or physical–chemical degradation of collagen, a high molecular weight
polypeptide is produced, called gelatin. Gelatin is also a protein and consists of 19 amino
acids. It is water soluble. Elastin, albumin and fibrin are other proteins from animal sources.

Applications
These widely include emulsifiers, foaming agents, colloid stabilizers, biodegradable film-
forming materials, and microencapsulating agents.

PROTEINS FROM VEGETABLE SOURCES[4]

WHEAT GLUTEN
Wheat gluten is a protein by-product of the starch fabrication.

Composition
Wheat gluten contains of two main groups of proteins, gliadin and glutenin. Gliadins are
proteins molecules with disulphide bonds and have low molecular weight and a low level of
amino acids with charged side groups. Glutenins are more sophisticated proteins, with a three
dimensional structure. Their molecular weight is at least ten times higher than that of
gliadins.

Fig. No. 13: Image of wheat gluten.

Advantages
 Wheat gluten materials have the fastest degradation rates.
 Gluten is fully biodegradable and the products obtained are non-toxic.
 It is readily available in high quantity and at low cost.

Applications
Wheat gluten has been proven to be an excellent film forming agent.
SOY PROTEIN

Fig. N0. 14. Image of Soy protein.

Source
According to the production method different categories of soy proteins exist: soy protein
isolate, soy protein concentrate and textured soy protein.

Composition
Soy protein isolate is the most refined form of soy protein and contains about 90 percent
protein. Soy protein concentrate is basically soybean without the water soluble carbohydrates.
It contains about 70 percent of protein.

Application
It has been used since 1959 as an ingredient in a variety of foods for its functional properties,
which include emulsification and texturizing. Recently the popularity of soy protein has been
increasing, mainly because of its health benefits. It has been proven that soy protein can help
to prevent heart problems.

GENERAL MECHANISM OF DRUG RELEASE FROM POLYMER[11-13]

There are three primary mechanisms by which active agents can be released from a delivery
system namely.

Diffusion
Diffusion occurs when a drug or other active agent passes through the polymer that forms the
controlled‐release device. Diffusion occurs when the drug passes from the polymer matrix
into the external environment. As the release continues its rate normally decreases with this
type of system since the active agent has a progressively longer distance to travel and
therefore requires a longer diffusion time to release. In these systems, the combinations of
polymer matrices and bioactive agents choosen must allow for the drug to diffuse through the
pores or macromolecular structure of the polymer upon introduction of the delivery system
into the biological environment without inducing any change in the polymer itself.

Degradation
Biodegradable polymer degrades within the body as a result of natural biological processes,
eliminating the need to remove a drug delivery system after release of the active agent has
been completed. Most biodegradable polymers are designed to degrade as a result of
hydrolysis of the polymer chains into biologically acceptable and progressively smaller
compounds. For some degradable polymers, most notably the polyanhydrides and
polyorthoesters, the degradation occurs only at the surface of the polymer, resulting in a
release rate that is proportional to the surface area of the drug delivery system.

Swelling
They are initially dry, when placed in the body will absorb water or other body fluids and
swell. The swelling increases the aqueous solvent content within the formulation as well as
the polymer mesh size, enabling the drug to diffuse through the swollen network into the
external environment.

ROLE OF POLYMERS IN PHARMAEUTICAL DRUG DELIVERY[3, 8 & 9]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE DOSAGE FORMS
Tablets: Microcrystalline cellulose is often used as an alternative to carbohydrates as diluents
in tablet formulations of highly potent low‐dose drugs. Polymers including polyvinyl‐
pyrrolidone and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) find uses as binders that aid the
formation of granules that improve the flow and compaction properties of tablet formulations
prior to tableting.

Capsules: Many of the polymeric excipients used to bulk out capsule fills are the same as
those used in immediate release tablets. Gelatin has been used almost exclusively as a shell
material for hard (two‐piece) and soft (one‐piece) capsules. HPMC has recently been
developed and accepted as an alternative material for the manufacture of hard (two‐piece)
capsules.
MODIFIED‐RELEASE DOSAGE FORM
To achieve gastro retention, mucoadhesive and low‐density polymers have been evaluated,
with little success so far, for their ability to extend gastric residence time by bonding to the
mucus lining of the stomach and floating on top of the gastric contents respectively.

EXTENDED RELEASE DOSAGE FORMS

Extended and sustained release dosage forms prolong the time that systemic drug levels are
within the therapeutic range and thus reduce the number of doses, the patient must take to
maintain a therapeutic effect thereby increasing compliance. The most commonly used water‐
insoluble polymers for extended‐release applications are the ammonium ethacrylate
copolymers (Eudragit RS and RL), cellulose derivatives ethylcellulose, and cellulose acetate,
and polyvinyl derivative, polyvinyl acetate.

GASTRORETENTIVE DOSAGE FORMS

Gastroretentive dosage forms offer an alternative strategy for achieving extended release
profile, in which the formulation will remain in the stomach for prolonged periods, releasing
the drug in situ, which will then dissolve in the liquid contents and slowly pass into the small
intestine.

POLYMERS IN PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM[3 & 15]

Rosin
Rosin a film‐forming biopolymer and its derivatives have been extensively evaluated
pharmaceutically as film coating and microencapsulating materials to achieve sustained drug
release. They are also used in cosmetics, chewing gums, and dental varnishes. Rosin has been
used to prepared spherical microcapsules by a method based on phase separation by solvent
evaporation. Rosin combination with polyvinyl pyrrolidone and dibutyl phthalate (30 % w/w)
produces smooth film with improved elongation and tensile strength.

Chitin and Chitosan

Chitin a naturally abundant muco polysaccharide and consist of 2‐acetamido‐2‐ deoxy‐b‐D‐
glucose. Chitin can be degraded by chitinase. Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide composed of
randomly distributed β‐(1‐ 4)‐linked D‐glucosamine (deacetylated unit) and N‐acetyl D
glucosamine (acetylated unit). The most important property of chitosan with regards to drug
delivery is its positive charge under acidic conditions. This positive charge
comes from protonation of its free amino groups. Lack of a positive charge means chitosan is
insoluble in neutral and basic environments.

Zein
Zein an alcohol‐soluble protein contained in the endosperm tissue of Zeamais, occurs as a by‐
product of corn processing. Zein has been employed as an edible coating for foods and
pharmaceuticals for decades. Zein is an inexpensive and most effective substitute for the fast
disintegrating synthetic and semi synthetic film coatings currently used for the formulation of
substrates that allow extrusion coating.

Collagen
Collagen is the most widely found protein in mammals and is the major provider of strength
to tissue. It not only has been explored for use in various types of surgery, cosmetics and drug
delivery, but in bio prosthetic implants and tissue engineering of multiple organs.

Starches
It is the principal form of carbohydrate reserve in green plants and especially present in seeds
and underground organs. Starch occurs in the form of granules (starch grains), the shape and
size of which are characteristic of the species, as is also the ratio of the content of the
principal constituents, amylose and amylopectin. A number of starches are recognized for
pharmaceutical use. These include maize (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum
aestivum), and potato (olanum tuberosum). To deliver proteins or peptidic drugs orally,
microcapsules containing a protein and a proteinase inhibitor were prepared. Starch/bovine
serum albumin mixed‐walled microcapsules were prepared using interfacial cross‐linking
with terephthaloyl chloride. The microcapsules were loaded with native or aminoprotected
aprotinin by incorporating protease inhibitors in the aqueous phase during the cross‐linking
process. The protective effect of microcapsules with aprotinin for bovine serum albumin was
revealed in vitro.

Polycaprolactone
Polycaprolactone (PCL) is biodegradable polyester with a low melting point of around 60°C
and a glass transition temperature of about −60°C. PCL is prepared by ring opening
polymerization of ε‐caprolactone using a catalyst such as stannous octanoate. The most
common use of polycaprolactone is in the manufacture of speciality polyurethanes.
Polycaprolactones impart good water, oil, solvent and chlorine resistance to the polyurethane
produced.

Polyorthoesters
These materials have gone through several generations of synthetic improvements to yield
materials that can be polymerized at room temperature without production of condensation
by‐products. These materials are hydrophobic with hydrolytic linkages that are acid sensitive,
but stable to base. They degrade by surface erosion and degradation rates may be controlled
by incorporation of acidic or basic excipients.

APPLICATION OF NATURAL POLYMER IN DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM[1, 4 & 8]

Colon delivery: Degraded by microflora present in human colon which supports colon drug
delivery. Coating material should have good film forming property and mucoadhesive
property. Microspheres for colon delivery developed. Ciofani et al (2008) developed alginate-
based drug delivery system for neurological applications, specifically, by considering the
target application of neural regeneration and neuroprotection.

Topical delivery: Carrageenans are a family of sulfated polysaccharides extracted from red
marine algae and that are widely utilized in the industry because they can form reasonably
stiff and thermo reversible gels.

Ocular delivery: Chitosan along with an excellent film capability make chitosan suitable for
development of ocular bandage lenses.

Mucosal delivery: Natural polymer gets protonated in acidic solution, so it binds strongly to
negatively charged cell surface making it useful to formulate bioadhesive dosage forms.

Transdermal drug delivery: Studies on propranolol hydrochloride delivery systems using

various natural polymer with different crosslink densities as drug release controlling
membranes and chitosan gel as the drug reservoir have been performed.

Gene Delivery: Natural polymer typically isolated from the shell of shrimp, has the ability to
react with DNA and compact it to produce a nanoparticle. Such nanoparticles are more
readily taken up by cells.
POLYMERS IN PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATION[3,19]
Water‐Soluble Synthetic Polymers
 Poly (acrylic acid) Cosmetic, pharmaceuticals, immobilization of cationic drugs, base for
Carbopol polymers.
 Poly (ethylene oxide) Coagulant, flocculent, very high molecular‐weight up to a few
millions, swelling agent.
 Poly (ethylene glycol) Mw <10,000; liquid (Mw <1000) and wax (Mw >1000),
plasticizer, base for suppositories.
 Poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) used to make betadine (iodine complex of PVP) with less
toxicity than iodine, plasma replacement, tablet granulation.
 Poly (vinyl alcohol) water‐soluble packaging, tablet.

Cellulose‐Based Polymers
 Ethyl cellulose insoluble but dispersible in water, aqueous coating system for sustained
release applications.
 Carboxymethyl cellulose is Super disintegrant, emulsion stabilizer.
 Hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl celluloses is Soluble in water and in alcohol for tablet
coating.
 Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose is a Binder for tablet matrix and tablet coating, gelatin
alternative as capsule material.
 Cellulose acetate phthalate enteric coating.

Hydrocolloids
 Alginic acid - oral and topical pharmaceutical products; thickening and suspending agent
in a variety of pastes, creams, and gels, as well as a stabilizing agent for oil‐in‐water
emulsions; binder and disintegrants.
 Carrageenan - Modified release, viscosifier.
 Chitosan - Cosmetics and controlled drug delivery applications, mucoadhesive dosage
forms, rapid release dosage forms.

Water‐Insoluble Biodegradable Polymers

 (Lactide‐co‐glycolide) polymers Microparticle– nanoparticle for protein delivery.
Starch‐Based Polymers
 Starch - Glidant, a diluent in tablets and capsules, a disintegrant in tablets and capsules, a
tablet binder.
 Sodium starch glycolate - super disintegrant for tablets and capsules in oral delivery.

Plastics and Rubbers

 Polyurethane - Transdermal patch backing, blood pump, artificial heart, and vascular
grafts, foam in biomedical and industrial products.
 Polyisobutylene - Pressure sensitive adhesives for transdermal delivery.
 Polycyanoacrylate - Biodegradable tissue adhesives in surgery, a drug carrier in nano and
microparticles.
 Poly (vinyl acetate) - Binder for chewing gum.
 Poly (vinyl chloride) - Blood bag and tubing.
 Polyethylene - Transdermal patch backing for drug in adhesive design, wrap, packaging,
containers.
 Poly (methyl methacrylate) - Hard contact lenses.

CONCLUSION
Natural biodegradable polymers have received much more attention in the last decades due to
their applications in the fields related to environmental protection and the maintenance of
physical health. From the discussion, it can be concluded that by incorporating drugs in
natural polymers, dosage forms that release the drug over a prolong length of time can be
prepared in variety of shapes and sizes. Polymers play a vital role in the drug delivery so; the
selection of polymer plays an important role in drug manufacturing. But while selecting
polymers care has to be taken regarding its toxicity, drug compatibility and degradation
pattern. By this review, we can say that natural polymers can be good substitute for the
synthetic polymers and many of the side effects of the synthetic polymers can be overcome
by using natural polymers.

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