Chitin-silicon dioxide coprecipitate as a novel superdisintegrant.

Chitin-silica represents a potentially useful superdisintegrant in many pharmaceutical applications. The "intimate" association between chitin and silica, without evidence of chemical reaction, creates an insoluble, hydrophilic, highly absorbent inert material. The new superdisintegrant is characterized by superiority in water uptake and water penetration, with no gelling hindrance effects, as well as compatibility with pharmaceutical drugs. In addition, it has an outstanding functionality that does not depend on swelling properties, as in the case of most conventional superdisintegrants. Chitin-silica offers good compressibility and compactability characteristics that may allow it to function as a pharmaceutical filler. Studies have shown that chitin-silica, as a superdisintegrant, is effective at all concentrations tested in tablet formulation.