Guar gum-based nanoformulations: Implications for improving drug delivery

Int J Biol Macromol. 2023 Feb 28:229:476-485. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.271. Epub 2023 Jan 2.

Abstract

Poorly soluble drugs are reported to easily degrade in the gastrointestinal tract and contribute in limiting the effect of drug to its targeted site. Oral administration of drug is one of the prominent ways to deliver a drug, although, it experiences barriers like acidic pH, presence of microflora and enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract. Collectively all of these participate in the degradation of drug before it reaches its target site and thus, they impede the sustained effect of drug. A quest of choosing a polymer with good stability profile and releasing the drug to its targeted site is always been a challenge for the scientists worldwide. Many polymers have been reported to prevent the degradation of drug and one such naturally occurring biocompatible polymer is guar gum. Guar gum-based nanoformulations have been extensively used in past decades to achieve controlled drug release which defines its importance. The coating of guar gum over the drug improves the bioavailability of the drug and thus helps in minimizing the risk of drug degradation. This review intends to highlight the beneficial role of guar gum-based nanoformulations to improve drug delivery by ameliorating the bioavailibility.

Keywords: Drug delivery; Guar gum; Nanoformulation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Galactans*
  • Mannans
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Plant Gums

Substances

  • guar gum
  • Galactans
  • Mannans
  • Plant Gums
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations