Synergistic gel formation in aqueous solutions of guar-gellan composition

Although a large number of patented methods have been proposed for the retention of solid drug forms in the stomach, they are not used in practice because of the need for special equipment or special preparation technology. The most promising approach is offered by the use of tablets containing rapidly swelling auxiliary components. Such components include, in particular, hetero-and homopolysaccharides. Taken in definite proportions, these compounds exhibit a synergistic effect ensuring fast formation of a sufficiently strong gel. The synergistic properties of heteropolysaccharide gellan and homopolysaccharide guar in aqueous solutions have been studied. The guar-gellan composition has been patented as a new platform for gastroretentive solid dosage medicinal forms for peroral administration. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.