THE ROLE OF DISINTEGRANTS IN SOLID ORAL DOSAGE MANUFACTURING

by: John C Carter,Carter Pharmaceutical Consulting, Inc.

2002 -2006. All Rights Reserved

WHAT ARE DISINTEGRANTS? Disintegrants are agents added to tablet (and some encapsulated) formulations to promote the breakup of the tablet (and capsule slugs) into smaller fragments in an aqueous environment thereby increasing the available surface area and promoting a more rapid release of the drug substance. There are three major mechanisms and factors affecting tablet disintegration as follows : A: Swelling: Although not all effective disintegrants swell in contact with water, swelling is believed to be a mechanism in which certain disintegrating agents (such as starch) impart the disintegrating effect. By swelling in contact with water, the adhesiveness of other ingredients in a tablet is overcome causing the tablet to fall apart. B: Porosity and Capillary Action (Wicking):

Effective disintegrants that do not swell are believed to impart their disintegrating action through porosity and capillary action. Tablet porosity provides pathways for the penetration of fluid into tablets. The disintegrant particles (with low cohesiveness & compressibility) themselves act to enhance porosity and provide these pathways into the tablet. Liquid is drawn up or wicked into these pathways through capillary action and rupture the interparticulate bonds causing the tablet to break apart. C: Deformation: Starch grains are generally thought to be elastic in nature meaning that grains that are deformed under pressure will return to their original shape when that pressure is removed. But, with the compression forces involved in tableting, these grains are believed to be deformed more permanently and are said to be energy rich with this energy being released upon exposure to water. In other words, the ability for starch to swell is higher in energy rich starch grains than it is for starch grains that have not been deformed under pressure. It is believed that no single mechanism is responsible for the action of most disintegrants. But rather, it is more likely the result of inter-relationships between these major mechanisms. The classical example of the earliest known disintegrant is Starch. Corn Starch or Potato Starch was recognized as being the ingredient in tablet formulations responsible for disintegration as early as 1906 (even though tablet disintegration was itself not given much importance in tablet formulations until much later). Until fairly recently, starch was the only excipient used as a disintegrant. To be effective, corn starch has to be used in concentrations of between 5-10%. Below 5%, there is insufficient channels available for wicking (and subsequent swelling) to take place. Above 10%, the incompressibility of starch makes it difficult to compress tablets of sufficient hardness. Although the connection between bioavailability of drug and tablet disintegration took some time to become appreciated, it is now accepted that the role of the disintegrant is extremely important. Other factors which affect the dissolution of Drugs from tablets are: Type and Concentration of Active Ingredient Type and Concentration of Binder Used Type and Concentration of Fillers Used (soluble vs. insoluble) Type and Concentration of Lubricant Used Type of Dissolution testing Used (Apparatus, Speed, Media) Manufacturing Process (wet granulation vs. compaction vs. direct compression)

In a direct compression process, drug is blended with a variety of excipients, subsequently lubricated and directly compressed into a tablet. A disintegrant used in this type of formulation, simply has to break the tablet apart to expose the drug substance for dissolution. In a wet granulation process, the drug substance is combined with other excipients and processed with the use of a solvent (aqueous or organic) with subsequent drying and milling to produce granules. The resulting granules are then blended with additional excipients prior to being compressed into a tablet. {Dry compaction is similar. But compression and milling are used (rather than solvents) to make the granules} A disintegrant used in granulated formulation processes can be more effective if used both intragranularly and extragranularly thereby acting to break the tablet up into granules and having the granules further disintegrate to release the drug substance into solution. However, the portion of disintegrant added intragranularly (in wet granulation processes) is usually not as effective as that added extragranularly due to the fact that it is exposed to wetting and drying (as part of the granulation process) which reduces the activity of the disintegrant. Since a compaction process does not involve its exposure to wetting and drying, the disintegrant used intragranularly tends to retain good disintegration activity. In addition to starch, the following are some of the disintegrants which were available prior to the use of the super-disintegrants to be discussed later: Pregelatinized Starch (Starch 1500) Pregelatinized starch is a directly compressible form of starch consisting of intact and partially hydrolyzed ruptured starch grains. Pregelatinized starch has multiple uses in formulations as a binder, filler and disintegrant. As a disintegrant, its effective use concentration is between 5-10%. Its major mechanism of action as a disintegrant is thought to be through swelling. Microcrystalline Cellulose (Avicel) Like pregelatinized starch, microcrystalline cellulose is widely used in formulations because of its excellent flow and binding properties. It is also an effective tablet disintegrant when used in a concentration of between 10-20%. Others Sodium Bicarbonate in combination with citric or tartaric acids is used as an effervescent disintegrant. Alginic Acid at a concentration of between 5-10% is an effective, but very expensive disintegrant. Ion Exchange Resins (Amberlite 88) has disintegrant properties at a concentration of between 1-5%. But this type of disintegrant is rarely used. SUPER DISINTEGRANTS: Because of the increased demands for faster dissolution requirements, there are now available, a new generation of Super Disintegrants in addition to the dis integrants discussed earlier. Three major groups of compounds have been developed which swell to many times their original size when placed in water while producing minimal viscosity effects: 1. Modified Starches- Sodium Carboxymethyl Starch (Chemically treated Potato Starch) i.e. Sodium Starch Glycolate (Explotab, Primogel) Mechanism of Action: Rapid and extensive swelling with minimal gelling. Effective Concentration: 4-6%. Above 8%, disintegration times may actually increase due to gelling and its subsequent viscosity producing effects. 2. Cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone- water insoluble and strongly hydrophilic. i.e. crospovidone (Polyplasdone XL, Kollidon CL) Mechanism of Action: Water wicking, swelling and possibly some deformation recovery. Effective Concentration: 2-4% 3. Modified Cellulose- Internally cross-linked form of Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. i.e. Ac-Di-Sol (Accelerates Dissolution), Nymcel Mechanism of Action: Wicking due to fibrous structure, swelling with minimal gelling. Effective Concentrations: 1-3% (Direct Compression), 2-4% (Wet Granulation) ADVANTAGES:

Effective in lower concentrations than starch Less effect on compressibility and flow ability More effective intragranularly

DISADVANTAGES: More hygroscopic (may be a problem with moisture sensitive drugs) Some are anionic and may cause some slight in-vitro binding with cationic drugs problem in-vivo.)

(not a

SUMMARY OF DISINTEGRANTS: Disintegrants are an essential component to tablet formulations. While rapidly disintegrating tablets do not necessarily ensure fast bioavailability, slowly disintegrating tablets almost always assure slow bioavailability. The ability to interact strongly with water is essential to disintegrant function. Combinations of swelling and/or wicking and/or deformation are the mechanisms of disintegrant action. Super disintegrants offer significant improvements over starch. But hygroscopicity may be a problem in some formulations.

http://www.carterpharmaceuticalconsulting.com/articles/The-role-of-disintergrants.html

WHAT IS A DISINTEGRANT?
1] A disintegrant is an excipient which is added to a tablet or capsule blend to aid in the

break up of the compacted mass when it is put into a fluid environment. This is especially important for immediate release products where rapid release of drug substance is required. A disintegrant can be added to a powder blend for direct compression or encapsulation. It can also be used with products that are wet granulated. In

wet granulation formulations, the disintegrant is normally effective when incorporated into the granule (intragranularly). However, it may be more effective if added 50% intragranularly, and 50% extra-granularly (i.e., in the final dry mixture). While there are some tablet fillers (e.g., starch and microcrystalline cellulose) which aid in disintegration, there are more effective agents referred to as superdisintegrants. Some superdisintegrants and their properties are listed below.
Alginic Acid

Croscarmellose Sodium

High swelling capacity, effective at low concentrations (0.5 2.0% but can be used up to 5.0%).

Crospovidone

Completely insoluble in water. Rapidly disperses and swells in water, but does not gel even after prolonged exposure. Greatest rate of swelling compared to other disintegrants. Greater surface area to volume ratio than other disintegrants. Recommended concentration:

1 to 3%

Available in micronized grades if needed to improve uniform dispersion in the powder blend.
L-HPC Insoluble in water. Rapidly swells in water. Grades LH-11 and LH-21 exhibit the greatest degree of swelling. Certain grades can also provide some binding properties while retaining disintegration capacity. Recommended concentration 1-5%.

(Low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose)

Sodium Starch Glycolate

Absorbs water rapidly, resulting in swelling which leads to rapid disintegration of tablets and granules. Recommended concentration: 1.0 4.0% but may need to use up to 6.0%. Gels on prolonged exposure to water. High concentrations may cause gelling and loss of disintegration.

http://www.pformulate.com/disintegrs.htm

Current Status of Tablet Disintegrants:A Review

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 07/08/2006 - 07:00

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Mr. Uddhav S. Bagul

Despite increasing interest in controlled-release drug delivery systems, the most common tablets are those intended to be swallowed whole and to disintegrate and release their medicaments rapidly in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).
The proper choice of disintegrant or superdisintegrant and its consistency of performance are of critical importance to the formulation development of such tablets. Drug release from a solid dosage form can be enhanced by addition of suitable disintegrants. In more recent years, increasing attention has been paid to formulating fast dissolving and/or disintegrating tablets that are swallowed, but also orally disintegrating tablets that are intended to dissolve and/or disintegrate rapidly in the mouth. (1-3) Therefore, the purpose of writing this review on Current Status of Disintegrants was to compile the existing literature on various disintegrants.

Introduction
Disintegrants are substances or mixture of substances added the drug formulation that facilitate the breakup or disintegration of tablet or capsule content into smaller particles that dissolve more rapidly than in the absence of disintegrants (4,5) . Superdisintegrants are generally used at a low level in the solid dosage form, typically 1 10 % by weight relative to the total weight of the dosage unit. Examples of superdisintegrants are crosscarmelose, crosspovidone, sodium starch glycolate which represent example of a crosslinked cellulose, crosslinked polymer and a crosslinked starch respectively. Tablet disintegration has received considerable attention as an essential step in obtaining fast drug release. The emphasis on the availability of drug highlights the importance of the relatively rapid disintegration of a tablet as a criterion for ensuring uninhibited drug dissolution behavior. Number of factors affects the disintegration behavior of tablets. The development of fast dissolving or disintegrating tablets provides an opportunity to take an account of tablet disintegrants. Recently new materials termed as superdisintegrant have been developed to improve the disintegration processes. Selecting appropriate formulationexcipients and manufacturing technology can obtain the design feature of fast disintegrating tablet. The disintegrants have the major function to appose the efficiency of the tablet binder and the physical forces that act under compression to form the tablet. The stronger the binder, the more effective must be the disintegrating agents in order for the tablet to release its medication. Ideally, it should cause the tablet to disrupt, not only into the granules from which it was compressed, but also into powder particles from which the granulation was prepared.

Method of Addition of Disintegrants:

The requirement placed on the tablet disintegrant should be clearly defined. The ideal disintegrant has1. Poor solubility 2. Poor gel formation 3. Good hydration capacity 4. Good molding and flow properties 5. No tendency to form complexes with the drugs Disintegrants are essentially added to tablet granulation for causing the compressed tablet to break or disintegrate when placed in aqueous environment. There are two methods of incorporating disintegrating agents into the tablet: I.Internal Addition (Intragranular) II.External Addition (Extragranular) III.Partly Internal and External In external addition method, the disintegrant is added to the sized granulation with mixing prior to compression. In Internal addition method, the disintegrant is mixed with other powders before wetting the powder mixtures with the granulating fluid. Thus the disintegrant is incorporated within the granules. When these methods are used, part of disintegrant can be added internally and part externally. This provides immediate disruption of the tablet into previously compressed granules while the disintegrating agent within the granules produces further erosion of the granules to the original powder particles. The two step method usually produces better and more complete disintegration than the usual method of adding the disintegrant to the granulation surface only.

Mechanism:
Disintegrant is a substance or mixture of substances added to tablets to facilitate its break up or disintegration. The active constituents must be released from the tablet as efficiently as possible to allow its rapid action. The mechanism by which the tablets are broken into small pieces and then produces a homogeneous suspension is based on : i. Capillary action ii. High swellability iii.Capillary action and high swellability iv. Chemical reaction (Acid base reaction)

The most popular disintegrants are corn starch, soluble starch etc. which have been well dried and powdered. Starches have great affinity for water and swells when moistened, thus facilitating the rupture of the tablet matrix, its disintegrating action in tablets is due to capillary action because of spherical shape of starch increases the porosity of tablet thus promoting capillary action. Some other materials are reported to be effective as disintegrants. These substances have high swellability with water and rupture the tablets into small particles for example. Gums, celluloses. Another mechanism for the disintegration of tablet is inclusion of citric acid and tartaric acid along with the sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate or calcium carbonate. These react in contact with water to liberate carbon dioxide that disrupts the tablet. FACTORS AFFECTING ACTION OF DISINTEGRANTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Percentage of disintegrants present in the tablets. Types of substances present in the tablets. Combination of disintegrants. Presence of surfactants. Hardness of the tablets. Nature of Drug substances. Mixing and Screening.
(6,7)

DISINTEGANTS USED IN TABLETTING

1. Starch

Starch is the oldest and probably the most widely used disintegrant in the pharmaceutical industry. Regular cornstarch USP, has certain limitation and has been replaced to some extent by modified starches with specialized characteristics to serve specific functions. The mode of action of starch is that the disintegrant forms pathways throughout the tablet matrix that enable water to draw into the structure by capillary action, thus leading to disruption of tablet. Other concept relates to swelling of starch grains on exposure to water, a phenomenon that physically ruptures the particle particle bonding in tablet matrix. Choudhary et al (8) reported that pregelatinized starch is a modified starch prepared from potato starch and is used in piroxicam dispersible tablets. Different proportion of drug and disintegrants as in the ratio 1: 1,1: 3, 1:9, were used to prepare dispersion. All the tablets disintegrated within 3 minutes. The possible mechanism responsible for increased dissolution rate from this tablet is rapid disintegration due to superior swelling capacity of pregelatinised starch.
2. Sodium Starch Glycolate ( Explotab and Primogel)

These are modified starches with dramatic disintegrating properties and are available as explotab and primogel which are low substituted carboxy methyl

starches. Explotab consisting of granules that absorb water rapidly and swell. The mechanism by which this action takes place involve rapid absorption of water leading to an enormous increase in volume of granules result in rapid and uniform disintegration. The natural predried starches swell in water to the extent of 10-20 percent and the modified starches increase in volume by 200-300 percent in water. This modified starch is that the disintegration time may be independent of compression force. (9) The primogel and other disintegrants such as cross carmellose sodium, cross povidone and potato starch were used as super disintegrant and the effect of these on the dissolution rate of sparfloxacin tablet has been studied by choudhary et al. (10) The tablets formulated by using these disintegrants were disintegrated within two minutes. The higher dissolution rates observed with superdisintegrants may be due to rapid disintegration and fine dispersion of particles formed after disintegration. Sallem et al (11) had studied the effect of four disintegrants on the dissolution of Terfenamide tablet containing the gas evolving disintegrant , CaCo3 . The four disintegrants improved disintegration and dissolution of the original formulation and their relative efficiency of improvement was in order of cross povidone> Ac-di-sol> Primogel> low substituted HPC. The fast disintegrants used were characterized by good hydration capacity. Cross povidone and primogel are known for their strong hydration capacities compared to the other fast disintegrants. The sodium starch glycolate was incorporated as a super disintegrant in the enteric coated antigen micro spheres and was studied by Zhang et al. (12) The significantly faster antigen release rate and reduced time need for breaking the film due to the swelling force generated by incorporation of sodium starch glycolate in the beads. Sodium starch glycolate has outstanding water wicking capacity and good swelling property as observed in case of enteric coated antigen micro spheres. Zhao N and Augsburger LL (13) have investigated the efficiency of superdisintegrants in promoting tablet disintegration and drug dissolution under varied media pH. Significant reductions in the rate and extent of water uptake and swelling were observed for both sodium starch glycolate (Primojel) and croscarmellose sodium (Ac-Di-Sol) in an acidic medium (0.1 N HCl)
3. Cross-linked polyvinyl Pyrrolidone (Cross Povidone)

Kornblurn et al (14) has reported the cross linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone and evaluated as tablet disintegrants and compared to starch USP and alginic acid. The capillary activity of cross povidone for water is responsible for its tablet disintegration property. Cross linked PVP has maximum moisture absorption and hydration capacity and can be considered for the selection of

new disintegrant. They possess apparent binding property resulting in low percent of tablet friability, where it is employed as disintegrant even in low concentration 0.5 to 5 percent. Alesandro et al (15) formulated fast dissolving composition of ibuprofen tablet by using 0.5 10 % linear polyvinyl pyrrolidone with respect to ibuprofen. The tablet was completely in solution in 10 minutes.
4. Alginates

Alginates are hydrophilic colloidal substances extracted from certain species of Kelp. Chemically they are available as alginic acid or salt of salt of alginic acid. Alginic acid is a polymer derived from seaweeds comprising Dmannuronic and L-glucoronic units. Its affinity for water absorption and high sorption capacity make it an excellent disintegrant. It can be successfully used with ascorbic acid, multivitamins formulation.
5. Cellulose

Cellulose such as purified cellulose, methylcellulose, crosslinked sodium carboxy methylcellulose (Ac-Di-Sol) and carboxy methyl cellulose are disintegrants to some extent depending on their ability to swell on contact with water. A crosslinked form of Ac-Di-Sol has been accepted as tablet disintegrant and it is essentially water insoluble. It has high affinity for water, which results in rapid tablet disintegration. (23) Botzolakis et al (16) have studied the wicking and swelling properties of pure disintegrants from plugs prepared under condition similar to those used in encapsulation of powder mixture into hard gelatin capsules. Use of Ac-Di-Sol exhibited the greatest wicking and swelling action followed by primogel and corn starch. The swelling property of pure disintegrant correlated best with the swelling of formulation mixtures and the efficiency of these materials in enhancing the dissolution of drug. Drug dissolution from the encapsulated dosage form can be improved significantly with the addition of disintegrating agents into the formulation. The efficiency of disintegrant employed, the nature of the matrix and the lubricant level. Augsburger et al (17) had shown the mechanism of action of disintegrants such as Ac-Di-Sol primogel, polyplasdone XL-10 and corn starch by rapid liquid absorption and swelling of disintegrant particles which fills the void spaces and cause the compact to disintegrate rapidly. Disintegrants, however, varied widely in their wicking and swelling properties and minimum concentration of disintegrant is necessary to produce primary particles upon disintegration and effectively improve drug dissolution. This study was thus designed to examine the behavior of disintegrant in their pure state and in hard gelatin capsule formulations. The intrinsic ability of disintegrant to absorb water and swelling was measured.

Jagdish Singh (18) included a new range of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Nymzel types ZSB-10, ZSB-16, ZSB-18) into Lorazepam tablet formulations to improve the disintegration, dissolution and bioavilability of drug. Sodium carboxy methylcellulose containing tablet disintegrated within 30 seconds. Bi et al (19) reported a rapidly disintegrating tablet with sufficient mechanical integrity as well as pleasant taste using cross-linked sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (Ac-Di-Sol) and tablettose. Ac-Di-Sol was one of the super disintegrant and has excellent disintegrant ability. It swells to a large extent when it comes in contact with water to disintegrate tablets and has fibrous nature that allows intraparticulate and extra particulate wicking of water even at low concentration level. Cousin et al, (20) formulated rapidly disintegrable multiparticular tablets containing carboxymethyl cellulose as a disintegrating agent and one swelling agent consisting of modified starch or microcrystalline cellulose. The tablets were disintegrated in the mouth in less than 60 seconds.
6. Microcrystalline Cellulose (Avicel pH -101, pH - 102, pH 105)

Avicel exhibit very good disintegrant property when present in as low as 10 percent. It functions by allowing water to enter the tablet matrix by means of capillary pores, which break the hydrogen bonding between adjacent bundles of cellulose microcrystals. Tablets with excess avicel have a tendency to stick to the tongue due to rapid capillary absorption and dehydrating the most surface. Avicel has a fast wicking rate for water, hence this and starch makes an excellent combination for effective and rapid disintegration in tablet formulation (9) To develop a rapidly disintegrating tablet, a mixture of MCC and L-HPC was in the range of 8:2 9:1 shown shortest disintegration time. MCC was used as disintegrating agent in the formulation of fast releasing compressed propranol hydrochloride suppositories as reported by Malladi et al (21). The concentration of MCC Shows faster drug release from suppository and evaluated their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics performance and compared the result obtained with oral administration. Bi et al (22) and Watanabe et al (23) used microcrystalline cellulose and Low substituted hydroxy propyl cellulose (L-HPC) as disintegrants to prepare rapidly disintegrating tablets. Ratio of the MCC and L- HPC was in the range of 8: 2 9: 1 resulted in tablets with shortest disintegration time. Chaudhary et al (24) had formulated and evaluated dispersible tablets of poorly soluble drugs using MCC (pH 105) and potato starch. Higher dissolution rate were observed in tablets as compared to the dissolution rate of conventional tablets.

7. Ambrelite IPR 88 (Ion Exchange Resins)

Ion exchange resin has ability to swell in the presence of water. When used as a disintegrant care must be taken that many resins have the ability to absorb drug particles. Anionic and Cationic resins have been used to absorb substances and release them when the charge changes.(9)
8. Gums

Gums have been used as disintegrants because of their tendency to swell in water. They can display good binding characteristics (1 to 10 percent of tablet weight). This property can oppose the desired property of assisting disintegration and the amount of gum must be carefully titrated to determine the optimum level for the tablet. Common gums used as disintegrant include agar, locust bean, karaya, Pectin and tragacanth. Blank et al (25) described pharmaceutical dosage form which disintegrates rapidly in water, within 10 seconds, having an open matrix network structure comprised of mannitol and natural gum can be used particularly for oral administration to pediatric and geriatric patient.
9. Guar Gums

It is naturally occurring gum (marketed under the trade name jaguar). It is free flowing, completely soluble, neutral polymer composed of sugar units and is approved for use in food. It is not sensitive to pH, moisture contents or solubility of the tablet matrix. It is not always pure white and sometimes varies in color from off-white to tan tends to discolor with time in alkaline tablets. (9)
10. Gum Karaya

Karaya has the natural gum exudates from the traces of Sterculia urens belonging to family sterculiacea. Chemically the gum has an anionic polysaccharide, containing 43%. D-galacturonic acid, 13% D-galactose and 15 percent L-rhamnose. The high viscosity nature of gum limits its uses as binder and disintegrant in the development of conventional dosage form. Mohan Babu et al (26) has been reported the modified gum karaya (Mgk) prepared from gum karaya (GK) by heat treatment can be used as disintegrant (because of low viscosity). The viscosity and volatile acetyl value of Mgk was markedly less than GK. The formulation containing Mgk absorb water readily, disintegrates and dissolves rapidly due to its low viscosity and high swelling properties.
11. Chitin and Chitosan

These are obtained from marine sources. Chitin a structural constituents in the sheels of crutacean and insect has an acylated polyamine, which is

biodegradable and non toxic. It is the most abundant natural polymer after cellulose. Chitin and Chitosan as disintegrant in paracetamol tablets were evaluated and compared with four commonly used disintegrants such as corn starch, sodium starch glycolate, methyl cellulose and cross Carmellose sodium, reported by Ritthidet et al. (27) Tablets containing Chitosan shows faster disintegration, greater dissolution and are slightly softer than those containing Chitin. An increment in concentration of these polymers causes markedly faster disintegration and better dissolution. Tablet containing seven percent Chitosan disintegrate within one minute which was much faster than those containing sodium starch glycolate and cross carmellose sodium. Moisture sorption and water uptake was found the major mechanism of disintegration while dissolution related to swelling capacity.
12. Smecta

Smecta is a clay mostly composed of smectile, a non fibrous Attapulgite, belonging to the family montomorillonite. Its layered leaf like structure consist of aluminium and octahydral layers sandwiched between tow tetrahydral silica layers. Smecta has a large specific area and high affinity for water. Smecta was found more adsorptive than other antdiarrheal clays, as fibrous attapulgite and kaolin. Smecta is evaluated as disintegrant in tablet made by compression and by wet granulation using lactose, dicalcium phosphate as water soluble and water insoluble fillers. An inorganic clay, magnesium aluminum silicate (Veegum), modified starch, Ac-di-sol and cross linked PVP as a disintegrants evaluated by Bhargava etal (28). Smecta performed well as a disintegrant in tablet superior to Veegum and starch, but inferior to Ac-di-sol and cross linked PVP.
13. Gellan Gum

Gellan gum is a linear anionic polysaccharide, biodegradable polymer obtained from Pseudomonos elodea consisting of a linear tetrasaccharide repeat structure and use as a food additive. Antony et al (29) studied the Gellan gum as a disintegrant and the efficiency of gum was compared with other conventional disintegrants such as dried corn starch, explotab, avicel (pH 102), Ac-di-sol. And Kollidon CL. The disintegration of tablet might be due to the instantaneous swelling characteristics of gellan gum when it comes into contact with water and owing to its high hydrophilic nature. The complete disintegration of tablet was observed within 4 minutes with gellan gum concentration of 4 percent

w/w and 90 percent of drug dissolved within 23 minutes. Ac-di-sol and Kollidone CL showed very similar pattern of disintegration and in vitro dissolution rates. With the same concentration tablet made with starch showed 220 minutes. From this result gellan gum has proved itself as a superior disintegrant.
14. Isapghula Husk

It is a natural substance as disintegrant. It consists of dried seeds of the plant known as plantago ovata. It contains mucilage which is present in the epidermis of the seeds. The mucilage is used as binding agent in the granulation of material for compressed tablets. Plantago ovata seeds husk has high swellability and gives uniform and slightly viscous solution hence it is used as thickening and suspending agent. Gupta G.D. et al (30) has investigated the disintegrating property of the Isapghula husk, Cassia tora and Cassia nodosa and the formulations were evaluated for the standard of dispersible tablets and were compared with marketed products. The study shown that the natural gums used as disintegrants were effective in low (5%) concentrations.
15. Polacrillin Potassium (Tulsion
339

Tulsion (339) is a resin consisting of highly purified crosslinked polacrillin copolymer in potassium form. It is used as a tablet disintegrant and as a taste-masking agent for various drugs. When Tulsion-339 is used as disintegrant, it swells up at very fast rate upon contact with water or gastro intestinal fluid and act as an effective tablet disintegrant. It is to be added in a dry form in the proportion of 0. 5 to 5% of the total weight of tablet, amount may vary depending upon nature of tablet. Polacrillin Potassium is high molecular weight polymer so can't be absorbed by body tissues & is safe for human consumption. It has no any physiological action at recommended dosage & it is non-toxic. Specific features of Tulsion-339 as a disintegrant: 1. 2. 3. 4. Faster rate of swelling. No lump formation after disintegration / dispersion. High compatibility. With excipitients and common therapeutic agent. Does not stick to punches and clays.
(31,32)

16. Agar

Agar is the dried gelatinous substance obtained from Gelidium Amansii ( Gelidanceae ) and several other species of red algae like, Gracilaria ( Gracilariaceae) and Pterocadia (Gelidaceae). Agar is yellowish gray or white to nearly colorless, odorless with mucilaginous taste and is available in the form of strips, sheet flakes or coarse powder. Agar consists of two

polysaccharides as agarose and agaropectin. Agarose is responsible for gel strength and Agaropectin is responsible for the viscosity of agar solutions. High gel strength of agar make it a potential candidate as a disintegrant. Ito et al (33) investigated the use of agar powder as a disintegrating agent for the development of rapidly disintegrating oral tablets. Agar was chosen because it absorbs water and swell significantly but do not become gelatinous in water at physiological temperature.
17. Gas Evolving disintegrants

Another approach for the disintegration of tablet is inclusion of citric acid and tartaric acid along with the sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate or calcium carbonate. These react in contact with water to liberate carbon dioxide that disrupts the tablet. Onali et al (34) described the process of making rapidly disintegrating tablets. The tablets consisting of malic acid or effervescence base, calcium carbonate as an active ingredient (antacid) and cornstarch as a bulking agent and disintegrating agent. The tablets prepared from these ingredients disintegrated within 20 second.

Conclusion:
Tablet disintegration has received considerable attention as an essential step in obtaining fast drug release. Disintegration remains a powerful influence and precursor for drug absorption. Disintegration of tablet or capsule is depending upon the type and quantity of disintegrants. The development of fast dissolving or disintegrating tablets provides an opportunity to take an account of tablet disintegrants. Therefore, there is a huge potential for the evaluation of new disintegrants or modification of an existing disintegrants into superdisintegrants, so as to formulate fast dissolving dosage form

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About Author(s):

Mr. Uddhav S. Bagul * (M. Pharm. Pharmaceutics) Lecturer, S.T.E.S.s Smt. Kashibai Navale College of Pharmacy, Kondhwa (Bk), Pune 411 048, Maharashtra, INDIA Phone No 020 26906066 (o), Cell: 9822192443, Email usbagul@yahoo.co.in Mr. Nilesh S. Bagul (B. Pharm.) Quality Assurance Executive, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Co., Verna Ind. Area, Goa, INDIA.

Ms. Minal S. Kulkarni (M. Pharm. Pharmaceutical Chemistry) Lecturer, S.T.E.S.s, Smt. Kashibai Navale College of Pharmacy, Kondhwa (Bk), Pune 411 048, Maharashtra, INDIA

Dr. S. D. Sawant (M. Pharm. PhD), Principal, S.T.E.S.s, Smt. Kashibai Navale College of Pharmacy, Kondhwa (Bk), Pune, Maharashtra, INDIA Dr. K. N. Gujar (M.Pharm PhD), Principal, STES, Sinhgad Institute of Pharmacy, Pune, Maharashtra State, INDIA

Mr. A. A. Bidkar (M. Pharm. Pharmacognosy) Lecturer, S.T.E.S.s Smt. Kashibai Navale College of Pharmacy, Kondhwa (Bk), Pune 411 048,Maharashtra, India
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