Novel multifunctional pharmaceutical excipients derived from microcrystalline cellulose-starch microparticulate composites prepared by compatibilized reactive polymer blending.

The choice of excipients remains a critical factor in pharmaceutical formulations. Microcrystalline cellulose-maize starch composites (MCC-Mst) have been prepared by mixing colloidal dispersions of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) with 10% (w/w) of chemically gelatinized maize starch (Mst) at controlled temperature conditions for use as multifunctional excipients with direct compression and enhanced disintegration abilities. The novel excipient was evaluated for its direct compression and enhanced disintegrant properties and the result compared with the properties of the individual components.

Preparation and characterization of mucinated cellulose microparticles for therapeutic and drug delivery purposes.

Mucinated cellulose microparticles were generated by mixing equal concentrations of colloidal dispersions of porcine mucin (Mc) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The hybrid polymer was recovered by precipitating at controlled temperature and pH conditions using acetone. Some physicochemical, functional and thermal properties of the hybrid polymer were determined and compared with those of Mc and MCC.