Chitin and Chitosan as Disintegrants in Paracetamol Tablets

Abstract

Chitin and chitosan as disintegrants in paracetamol tablets were evaluated and compared to four commonly used disintegrants. Tablets containing chitosan showed faster disintegration, greater dissolution and was slightly softer than those containing chitin. An increment in concentration of these polymers caused markedly faster disintegration and better dissolution while an increase in compressional force showed opposite effects. Aging slightly altered the disintegration and dissolution. Tablets containing 7% of chitosan disintegrated within one minute which was much faster than those containing corn starch and microcrystalline cellulose but slightly slower than those containing sodium starch glycolate and croscamellose sodium. However, their dissolution profiles were non-significantly different from those of the latter ones.

Crystallinity, degree of acetylation, chain length and particle size were attributed to the efficiency of chitin and chitosan. Moisture sorption and water uptake were found to be the major mechanisms of disintegration while dissolution related to the swelling capacity.