Sodium starch glycolate is a pharmaceutical excipient used as a superdisintegrant in tablets and capsules. It works by absorbing water, swelling rapidly, and causing the tablet to break apart quickly, which helps the drug dissolve and be absorbed more efficiently. It is a modified starch derived from sources like corn or potato, and its uses also extend to being a suspending and gelling agent.
What it is
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Pharmaceutical excipient:It is an inactive ingredient added to drug products to aid in their formulation and delivery.
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Superdisintegrant:Its main function is to help tablets and capsules break down into smaller pieces after ingestion.
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Modified starch:It is created by chemically modifying starch through substitution and cross-linking, often using potato or corn starch.
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Appearance:It is a white to off-white, odorless, tasteless, free-flowing powder.
How it works
- Rapid water absorption: It quickly absorbs moisture from the digestive system.
- Swelling: This rapid absorption causes the granules to swell significantly.
- Disintegration: The swelling creates a force that breaks the tablet apart, leading to faster dissolution of the active drug.
Key uses
- Tablets and capsules: Its primary use is to ensure that oral solid dosage forms disintegrate effectively for optimal drug absorption.
- Suspending and gelling agent: It can also be used to suspend particles in a liquid formulation or to create a gel-like consistency.
- Dietary supplements: It is used in a variety of dietary supplements as a disintegrant.
