[Usage of chitosan as a pharmaceutical material effectiveness as an additional additives of sodium alginate].

Application of chitosan, a deacetylated compound of chitin obtained from shells of shrimps, was investigated with reference to the pharmaceutical excipient for directly compressed tablets. Several drugs were chosen as model compounds and their in vitro dissolution tests were carried out according to the JP XI dissolution test. When chitosan was used alone as an excipient, immediate-release tablets were obtained, as already reported. But when more than 5% of sodium alginate, 1000 cps, was added as excipient, tablets showed an extended-release property under the present experimental conditions.