Polysaccharides as excipients for colon-specific coatings. Permeability and swelling properties of casted films.

Oligosaccharides such as inulin (In) and polysaccharides such as galactomannans, combined with polymethacrylates on isolated films for film coatings, were obtained from aqueous-based solvents and investigated as potential vehicles for colonic drug delivery. These compositions, which are susceptible to fermentation by colonic microflora, constitute promising excipients for the development of new colon-specific therapeutic systems. The characteristics of several compositions have been demonstrated in permeability and swelling studies on isolated films composed of a polymethacrylate associated with In or galactomannans of mesquite seed gum (MSG). Results reported prove a dependency of the properties of mixed films on the polymethacrylate-polysaccharide concentration ratio and on the composition of the dissolution media. An increase in permeability through the mixed films was observed in a simulated colonic environment for the following compositions: Eudragit RS30D-MSG 70:30 w/w; Eudragit RS30D-In 90:10 w/w; Eudragit RS30D-In 76:24 w/w.