Preparation and Dissolution Characteristics of Pullulan Tablets

Abstract

Tablets were prepared from powder of pullulan, a water soluble polysaccharide, by direct compression, and the following dissolution behavior in water was observed. Pullulan dissolved gradually from the surface of tablet as the contained drug released at close to constant rate (0-order) depending on the molecular weight of pullulan, but independent of the pH of test solvent. The dissolution can be controlled by simple processing of tablets. Along with the facts of simple preparation and safety for human bodies, these results suggested that pullulan tablets can be used for sustained release of drugs. Then, many kinds of tablets were prepared from pullulan mixed with other polymers, i.e., starch, cellulose fine powder, and cellulose derivatives used in medicines. Dissolution behavior of most of these tablets was similar to that of pullulan tablets. The results of in vivo experiments using a dog indicated sustained release of sulfamethizole from tablets prepared from high molecular weight pullulan and from a mixture of pullulan and hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose. © 1985, The Society of Polymer Science, Japan. All rights reserved.