A Review on Sodium Alginate: A Natural Polymer

Abstract

Polymer is large molecules (macromolecule) of natural or synthetics substances, composed of many repeated subunits of monomers. It is broadly classified into three types namely natural polymers, semi-synthetic and synthetic polymers. Natural polymers are having the advantages of biocompatibility, biodegradability and safety over synthetic polymers. The natural polymers have different roles and applications in the pharmaceutical formulations such as binders, matrix formers or drug release modifiers, film coating formers, thickeners or viscosity enhancers, stabilizers, disintegrants, solubilisers, emulsifiers, suspending agents, gelling agents and bioadhesives. The use of natural polymers in pharmaceutical industry is comparatively high than synthetic polymers.

Keywords: Copolymers, monomers, natural polymers, polymers, sodium alginate

Cite this Article

S. Dhivya, S. Sarojini, S. Duraivel. A Review on Sodium Alginate: A Natural Polymer. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Drug Formulation, Development and Production. 2020; 7(1): 1–5p.