Polysaccharides: Pharmaceutical Applications-An Updated Review.

Abstract

Background: In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has increasingly relied on natural polysaccharides due to their bioactive properties. These biopolymers, derived from various sources including plants, animals, microorganisms, and algae, play a crucial role in drug delivery systems, offering biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility in pharmaceutical formulations.

Aim: This review aims to provide an updated overview of natural polysaccharides, exploring their physicochemical properties, sources, and applications in pharmaceutical and biomedical fields.

Methods: The review synthesizes recent research on natural polysaccharides, focusing on their chemical structure, classification, and modifications. The study categorizes polysaccharides into homopolysaccharides and heteropolysaccharides, based on the type of monosaccharide units they contain. It also discusses the chemical and physical modifications, such as sulfation and phosphorylation, which enhance their performance in drug delivery.

Results: Natural polysaccharides, including plant gums, chitosan, guar gum, and xanthan gum, have shown significant potential as excipients in pharmaceutical formulations. They are employed in diverse dosage forms, such as implants, nanoparticles, and injectable systems. The physicochemical properties, including solubility, viscosity, and gelling ability, vary depending on the source, and modifications are used to optimize these characteristics for specific pharmaceutical applications.

Conclusion: Natural polysaccharides have emerged as key materials in the pharmaceutical industry due to their unique properties and eco-friendly characteristics. Their versatility allows them to serve multiple functions in drug delivery systems, from suspending agents to emulsifiers. With further research into their modifications, polysaccharides will continue to provide sustainable alternatives to synthetic polymers in pharmaceutical applications.