title: Application of curdlan to controlled drug delivery. I. The preparation and evaluation of theophylline-containing curdlan tablets.
abstract: To study the use of curdlan, a natural beta-1,3-glucan, in drug delivery, in vitro release studies were carried out with curdlan tablets containing theophylline. Tablets were readily prepared by compressing three different curdlan and theophylline mixtures, namely, a physical mixture, spray-dried curdlan particles with theophylline powder, and spray-dried particles of curdlan/theophylline solution. Drug release from the tablets prepared from spray-dried particles of curdlan/theophylline was lowest. The release rate was constant from 1 to 8 hr, and 59% cumulative release was obtained at 8 hr. Drug release from curdlan tablets was unaffected by pH or various ions; these curdlan tablets might also control drug release in vivo after oral administration. Application of Higuchi's equation indicated that drug release from curdlan tablets was diffusion-controlled. The release profiles of the curdlan tablets were compared to those of a commercial theophylline sustained-release tablet.
authors.affiliation: Fukuyama University, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanke
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katayama
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005936:Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013607:Tablets; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D047071:beta-Glucans
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005936:Glucans; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D013607:Tablets; D047071:beta-Glucans; C038459:curdlan; D013806:Theophylline