Comparison of synthetic polymeric disintegrants mainly used for orodispersible tablets manufacturing.

Interest for improving the manufacturing process of orodispersible tablets is gaining popularity thanks to specific advantages of this pharmaceutical formulation, primarily ease of administration and improved bioavailability. Selecting appropriate excipients is essentially important to get formulation with desired characteristics. Disintegrants are added to the formulation to achieve shorter disintegration time and consequent enhancement of the drug dissolution rate. It s necessary to study the characteristics and exact concentration of disintegrant which is planned to be used in formulation in order to reach adequate mechanical strength of the final product but at the same time its fast disintegration. Good mechanical strength ensures the stability of the product during packing and handling, but the disintegrant should also provide disintegration of the tablet in the mouth in a few seconds. The objective of the present article is to compare physical and chemical characteristics, mechanisms of disintegration, sources, structure, swelling capacity, effective concentrations, advantages and limitations of three mainly used synthetic polymeric disintegrants for orodispersible tablets manufacturing: sodium starch glycolate, croscarmellose and crospovidone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]