SEMINAR ON

NATURAL POLYMERS
PRESENTED BY
SANKET R. DESAI

Introduction

Polymers are very large molecules comprising of

repeating units of small molecules, the monomer.

Polymers which are produced in nature by living

organisms are called as a natural polymers.

Natural polymers are also biodegradable

polymers.

The natural polymers can be proteins and

polysaccharides in chemical origin.

Advantages of Natural Polymers

Derived from natural sources

Easily available

Relatively inexpensive

Qualified for number of chemical

modification.

Natural polymers which are used in

various biochemical applications
Collagen
Albumin
Gelatin
Casein
Fibrinogen
Dextran
Alginate
Chitin and Chitosan

COLLAGEN

A protein, the main constituent of connective tissues

and the organic component of bones
Prime function of collagen is to check tissue
deformation.

ADVANTAGES

Easy to isolate and purify in the large quantity

Biocompatible and non toxic in nature
Well established physicochemical and structural
properties
It can be modified in various forms such as fibers,
sponges, cross linked films etc.

ALBUMIN
Albumin is a major plasma protein component.
In human plasma it accounts for more than
55% of total protein.
They have been employed to design
particulate drug delivery system.
Albumin Microsphere has been employed to
deliver many drugs including insulin,
sulphadiazine, mitomycine, predni-solone etc.

ADVANTAGES
Easy availability, Absence of toxicity and
antigenicity.
Their prime advantage include their
degradation into natural product.

GELATIN

Gelatin is a heterogenous product obtained

by irreversible hydrolytic extraction of
treated animal collagen.

This partial hydrolysis turns tough fibrous

collagen in water soluble protein.
The physicochemical properties of gelatin
are dependent on the source of collagen,
extraction methods, pH values, the
thermal degradation and electrolyte
content.
Gelatin has been employed as a matrix
and as a coating materials in drug delivery
system.

ADVANTAGES
Easily available, low antigen profile, poor
binding to drug molecules and low
temperature preparation technique that
reduces the chances of drug degradation.
Gelatin micro pellets can be prepared for
oral controlled delivery of drugs.

FIBRINOGEN

Fibrinogen is a soluble plasma protein.

Fibrinogen microspheres can be prepared by

an emulsification technique followed by
thermal denaturation.
Doxorubicine, 5-fluorouracil, have been
delivered with fibrinogen microspheres.

DEXTRAN

Dextran is a polymer of glucose.

Dextran is prepared by the action of bacterium
Leuconostoc mesenteroides on sucrose
which results in production of high molecular
weight Dextran which is hydrolyzed and
fractionated to Dextran of desired molecular
weight.

The Dextran can be selectively utilized In

the form of gel for colonic delivery of drugs.

ALGINATE
Alginates are hydrophilic carbohydrates
obtained from various species of brown
seaweeds by the use of dilute alkali.
It can be easily fabricated into particulate
carriers.
Alginate microspheres have been effectively
used for oral delivery of vaccines.

ADVANTAGES
Alginate vaccine delivery system offers
several benefits since the use of organic
solvents and high temperatures is not
required, even viable bacteria and viruses
can also be employed.
They protect antigen/vaccines against
degradation in the GIT allowing simulation of
immune response with smaller amounts of
antigens/vaccines.
They act as an adjuvant.
They bypass the stomach and thereby
deliver the antigen to GIT.

CHITIN AND CHITOSAN

Chitin is highly insoluble in common solvents

and has a close resemblance to cellulose by
having similar solubility profile and low
chemical reactivity.
The principal industrial source of the chitin are
shells of shrimp, lobster and crab.
CHITOSAN is a principal derivative of chitin
and obtained by deacetylation.
CHITIN and CHITOSAN can be distinguished by
their solubility profile in aqueous acid
solutions.

The characteristic properties of Chitosan that

render them suitable for pharmaceutical and
biomedical applications are
1) Pharmacological properties like antacid and
antiulcer activity, hypocholesterolemic
action, wound healing properties, gel
forming ability at low pH.
2) Haemostatic and spermicidal properties
owing to their ability to bind strongly to
mammalian cells by virtue of their
polycationic characteristics.
3) Favorable biological properties such as
biodegradability, biocompatibility and nontoxicity.

Chitosan is also being investigated for its

application in various other delivery
systems e.g.
a)
b)
c)
d)

Ophthalmic delivery system

Mucoadhesive delivery system
Hard capsules
Chitosan-gelatin coacervates etc.

References
Controlled drug delivery concepts and
advances by S.P.Vyas and Roop K. Khar,
Page no 102-107.
Pharmaceutical product development by
N.K. Jain.