PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CHITOSAN SUCCINATE AS COATING POLYMER FOR ENTERIC-COATED TABLET

Objective: This present study was aimed to evaluate the potential of chitosan succinate as a coating polymer.Methods: In this study, chemical modification of chitosan was performed by substituting a succinate group into chitosan’s amine group. This reactionused a water-solvent method to obtain chitosan succinate. Chitosan succinate was characterized and used as a coating agent in enteric-coated tabletdosage forms containing sodium diclofenac as the drug model at concentrations of 3% and 4% and combined it with hydroxypropyl methylcellulosephthalate (HPMCP) in ratios of 3:1 and 2:1 (3%). The obtained tablets were evaluated based on their physical appearance, uniformity of weight andsize, thickness film, disintegration time for an hour in acid, and dissolution profile.Results: Although the enteric-coated tablets with 3% and 4% chitosan succinate dissolved after 1 h in acid, they could not hold drug release in theacid medium under 10%. The enteric-coated tablet combined with chitosan succinate and HPMCP (3:1 and 2:1) at 3% did not dissolve after 1 h in theacid medium and could hold drug release up to 8.53% in acid.Conclusion: A combination of chitosan succinate and HPMCP (3:1 and 2:1) at 3% has a better ability to hold drug release in acid medium and met therequirement as a coating in enteric-coated tablet dosage forms.