Product Description
Carrageenans are a naturally occurring family of polysaccharides derived from red seaweed. FMC BioPolymer has advanced manufacturing capabilities to provide high quality and consistent Gelcarin,Viscarin and SeaSpen PF carrageenan products that provide a wide range of rheology properties in gelling and viscosifying pharmaceutical applications. The availability of a reliable pharmaceutical source of these highly functional excipients presents new formulation and product possibilities.
Three basic types of carrageenan make up the range of products and properties available. These types are kappa, iota and lambda carrageenan. Originating from the same polysaccharide backbone, these polymers differ primarily in the number and location of sulfate ester substitution. This gives each type of carrageenan a specific set of properties, which are outlined below:
|
|
|
|
Kappa
|
|
Iota
|
|
Lambda
|
|
|
|
80°C Water |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
|
|
|
|
20°C Water |
|
Na+salt soluble |
|
Na+ salt soluble |
|
yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K+ , Ca++ and NH4+ salt swells |
|
Ca++ salt swells to form thixotropic dispersion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5% Salt Solution
|
|
|
|
-Hot |
|
swell |
|
swell |
|
soluble |
|
|
|
|
|
-Cold |
|
no |
|
no |
|
soluble |
|
|
|
|
Gelation Heat to 175°F/Cool to <120°F |
|
|
|
|
Kappa
|
|
Iota
|
|
Lambda
|
|
|
|
Strongest Gels |
|
with K+ ion |
|
with Ca++ ion |
|
no gel |
|
|
|
|
|
Gel Texture |
|
brittle |
|
elastic |
|
no gel |
|
|
|
|
|
Regelation After Shear |
|
no |
|
yes |
|
no |
|
|
|
|
|
Syneresis |
|
yes |
|
no |
|
no |
|
|
|
|
|
Freeze/Thaw Stability |
|
no |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
|
|
|
|
Synergism With Other Gums |
|
yes |
|
no |
|
no |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kappa
|
|
Iota
|
|
Lambda
|
|
|
|
Hot Sols |
|
no |
|
no |
|
no |
|
|
|
|
|
Gels |
|
stable above pH 3.8 |
|
stable above pH 3.8 |
|
Not applicable |
|
|
|
Applications
Current marketed products containing carrageenan include cough/cold liquids, antibiotic suspensions, topical lotions and creams, and medicated shampoos. New applications for carrageenan continue to be developed and commercialized due to its unique high performance rheology features. Examples of emerging functionality and applications include: bio adhesion in oral liquid products, shape retention in vaulted cavity delivery systems such as otic and vaginal, suppository formulation, and controlled release delivery. We can provide further information on unique drug delivery employing the features of cargeenan. A variety of technical literature is available upon request. You may also contact your nearest representative.
The functional properties defined by sulfate substitution suggest a variety of potential applications. The functions of interest include:
- Gel formation - Kappa and iota types will set up gel structures that are thermally reversible. The former creates a stiff, strong gel structure, useful in applications that require shape retention such as otic and vaginal, suppository formulation, and controlled release delivery. Iota gels are flexible, elastic gels which, when broken, will reheal into a gel structure, useful in film formation or spreading applications.
- Particulate suspension - A three-dimensional network established with certain carrageenans provides excellent suspension functionality. They also can yield a thixotropic character, yielding a pourable liquid that reforms a gel for long term stability of a pharmaceutical suspension.
- Control of flow properties - Lambda carrageenans offer high performance viscosifier functionality. The ultimate viscosity in a formulation can be carefully controlled by the use of metal ions. Because of defined, reversible thermal gelling/melting properties, kappa and iota carrageenans offer a thermal control mechanism that can prove valuable in processing and manufacturing a product and in delivering the drug.
- Water binding - All carrageenans have excellent water binding capabilities. This is particularly useful in topical dosage forms, and leads to a pleasant skin feel without the sticky feeling imparted by synthetic gelling agents.
Grades of USP/NF Carrageenan
FMC BioPolymer offers six carrageenan products. Gelcarin GP-911 and GP-812 are primarily kappa type carrageenans, forming hard, brittle gels. Gelcarin GP-379 is an iota based product, yielding an elastic gel. Two lambda based products, Viscarin GP-109 and GP-209, offer a range of viscosifying properties.
|
|
Product
Name
|
|
Carrageenan
Type
|
|
Viscosity
|
|
Gel Type
|
|
Water
Solubility
|
|
Use
Level
|
|
Use Examples
|
|
|
|
Gelcarin GP-379NF |
|
Iota |
|
High
Thixotropic |
|
Elastic
Medium Strength |
|
Hot |
|
0.3-
1.0% |
|
Creams, Suspensions Polyol Reactive Protein Reactive Promotes Freeze Thaw |
|
|
|
|
|
Gelcarin GP-812NF |
|
Kappa |
|
Low |
|
Brittle Strong |
|
Hot |
|
0.3-
1.0% |
|
Stronger Gels than GP-911 Note: Syneresis higher than GP-911 |
|
|
|
|
|
Gelcarin GP-911NF |
|
Kappa |
|
Low |
|
Brittle Firm |
|
"Hot, Partial Cold" |
|
0.25-
2.0% |
|
Encapsulation/ Delivery Systems Polyol Reactive Protein Reactive |
|
|
|
|
|
Viscarin GP-109NF |
|
Lambda |
|
Medium |
|
|