CHITOSAN AND ITS USE AS A PHARMACEUTICAL EXCIPIENT

Chitosan has been investigated as an excipient in the pharmaceutical i ndustry, to be used in direct tablet compression, as a tablet disinteg rant, for the production of controlled release solid dosage forms or f or the improvement of drug dissolution. Chitosan has, compared to trad itional excipients, been shown to have superior characteristics and es pecially flexibility in its use. Furthermore, chitosan has been used f or production of controlled release implant systems for delivery of ho rmones over extended periods of time. Lately, the transmucosal absorpt ion promoting characteristics of chitosan has been exploited especiall y for nasal and oral delivery of polar drugs to include peptides and p roteins and for Vaccine delivery These properties, together with the v ery safe toxicity profile, makes chitosan an exciting and promising ex cipient for the pharmaceutical industry for present and future applica tions.