Polymers Used in Pharmaceuticals: A Brief Review

1 ISSN 2395-3411 Available online at 233. _____Review Article Polymers Used in Pharmaceuticals: A Brief Review Pawar Dipali Sanjay*, Patrekar Prasad Vasantrao, Dhanawade Pooja Pandit, Dongare Sujata Dattaprasad and Mali Savita Shivaji Department of Pharmaceutics, Adarsh Institute of Pharmacy, Vita, Maharashtra, India. _____. ABSTRACT. polymer have played indispensable roles in the preparation of pharmaceutical applications range widely from material packaging to fabrication of the most sophisticated drug delivery devices. This Review includes various Polymers used in pharmaceutics based on their applications . The Review focused on the use of pharmaceutical Polymers for controlled drug delivery applications . Advances in polymer science have led to the development of several novel drug delivery system.

2 The Review provides the overview of the mechanism of polymer , properties, characterization of polymer and future of polymer technology which should be considered are involved. Keywords: Classification of polymer , Biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymer , Physical properties. INTRODUCTION 3) To minimize side effect in medical Definition of polymer treatment. Polymers are long chain organic molecules 4) In pharmaceutical field polymer assembled from many smaller molecules used as binder, emulsifying agent, called as monomer. thickening agent etc. The polymer have been synthesized for 5) polymer also used as film coating specific need and to solve problems to masking the unpleasant taste to related with development of drug delivery enhance drug stability and in system.

3 Protection and packaging. Polymers have been mainly used to 1,2. control the drug release rate from the CLASSIFICATION OF THE polymer . formulations. A. Based on origin They are also used as taste masking a) Natural polymer agent, stabilizer and protective agent in Natural Polymers are the oral drug delivery. substances which are obtained by Polymers can bind the particles of a solid natural sources like plant and animal dosage form and also change the flow sources. properties of a liquid dosage form. Proteins, enzymes, muscle fibers, Polymers are macromolecules having polymer polysaccharide, gummy very large chains contain a variety of exudates are the natural Polymers functional groups, can be blended with which are used in formulating other low and high molecular weight pharmaceutical products.

4 material . The well-known natural Polymers Polymers are mostly applied in drug are chitosan, carrageenan, delivery because they have unique isapghula, acacia, gelatin, agar, properties which have not been attained shellac, guar gum. by any other material . The specific application of plant derived polymer in pharmaceutical On the basis of surface and bulk properties formulations include their use in the Polymers are have some application manufacture of solid monolithic 1) In development of drug matrix systems, implants, films, delivery/targeting technique to beads, micro particles, improve the efficiency of drug nanoparticles, inhalable and therapy. injectable system as well as viscous 2) In development of new technology liquid formulations.

5 In polymer based encapsulation Proteins-collagen, keratin, and controlled drug release albumin. system. International Journal of Pharma And Chemical Research I Volume 2 I Issue 4 I Oct Dec I 2016. ISSN 2395-3411 Available online at 234. Carbohydrates-starch, Example cellulose, glycogen. o The combination of liposomes and collagen-based technologies has 1. Collagen Been used. o Collagen is a major natural protein o In this case, drugs and other component in mammals that is bioactive agents were firstly fabricated from glycine-proline- encapsulated in the liposomes and (hydroxy) proline. then embedded inside a depot o Collagen has been widely used in composed of collagen-based pharmaceutical applications due to systems, including scaffolds and the fulfillment of many requirements gels.

6 Of a drug delivery system such as o The combination of these two good biocompatibility, low technologies ( , liposomes and antigenicity, and degradability upon collagen-based system) has implantation. improved storage stability, prolonged o Collagen gels are one of the first the drug release rate, and increased natural Polymers to be used as a the therapeutic efficacy. promising matrix for drug delivery and tissue engineering. Fig. 1. b) Synthetic polymer introduced in 1970 as the first Synthetic Polymers are industrially synthetic absorbable suture under the produced chemical substances trade name Dexon . consisting of a number of molecules The low solubility and high melting linked together with covalent bond. point of PGA limits its use for drug A wide variety of synthetic Polymers delivery applications , since it cannot are available with variation in main be made into films, rods, capsules, or chain as well as side chain.

7 Microspheres using solvent or melt The most commonly used synthetic techniques. polymer are polythene and b) Based on Bio-stability 4. polystyrene. Bio-degradable Polymers polyester, polyanhydrides, A bio-degradable polymer is a polyamides, polyglycolic acid. polymer in which the degradation results from the Polyglycolic acid (PGA) action of naturally occurring PGA is commonly obtained by ring- microorganisms such as opening polymerization of the cyclic bacteria, fungi. diester of glycolic acid, glycolide. Biodegradable Polymers are PGA is a hard, tough, crystalline highly desirable in their polymer with a melting temperature of conditions as they degrade in .225 C and a glass transition the body to biologically inert temperature, Tg, of 36 C.

8 And compatible molecules. PGA has excellent fiber-forming properties and was commercially International Journal of Pharma And Chemical Research I Volume 2 I Issue 4 I Oct Dec I 2016. ISSN 2395-3411 Available online at 235. These polymer includes Following are the non- polyester, proteins, biodegradable Polymers used in carbohydrates, etc. pharmaceutical formulation- ethyl cellulose, HPMC, acrylic Alginate polymer , poly (ethylene glycol). Alginate also serves as an example of a naturally occurring Polyethylene glycol (PEG). linear polysaccharide. Polyethylene glycol is Alginate are widely used by many synthesized by the interaction of pharmaceutical scientist for drug ethylene oxide with water, delivery due to its many unique ethylene glycol or ethylene glycol properties such as oligomers.

9 Biocompatibility, biodegradability, PEG is suitable for biological low toxicity, non-immunogenicity, applications because it is soluble water solubility, relatively low in water and has low intrinsic cost, gelling ability, stabilizing toxicity. properties, and high viscosity in The high hydrophilic nature of aqueous solutions. PEG enhance the solubility of The cross linking methodology hydrophobic drug or carriers was conducted at room when conjugated with them. temperature and physiological It enhances the physical and pH. chemical stability of drug and The alginate based systems have prevents aggregation of the been successfully used as a drugs in vivo as well as during matrix for the encapsulation of storage. stem cells and for controlled PEG helps in reducing the release of proteins, genes, and aggregation of red blood cell and drugs.

10 Also improve the blood compatibility of PEG copolymers 4. Non-biodegradable polymer that are implanted as This Polymers are used in cardiovascular devices such as pharmaceutical formulation to stents. increase the therapeutic efficacy It is mainly used in storage of of drug. blood and organs. Both This Polymers is now days used in temperature responsive and drug delivery system and tissue chemically cross linked hydro engineering. gels have been formed from PEG. 3. Some linear Polymers used in pharmaceuticals Repeating monomer unit Chemical name abbreviation Polyolefin -(-CH2 CH-)- | polypropylene PP. CH3. -(-CH2 CH-)- | polystyrene PS.. -(-CH2 CH CH CH2-)- 1,4-polybutadiene PB. -(-CH2 CH2-)- polyethylene PE(HDPE &LDPE). Polyvinylics and polyvinylidenics -(-CH2 CHCl-)- Poly(vinyl chloride) PVP.