AN EVALUATION OF PECTIN AS A CARRIER FOR DRUG TARGETING TO THE COLON

A novel colonic drug delivery system based on the polysaccharide pectin has been investigated. In vitro experiments demonstrated that high methoxy pectin (pectin USP), when applied as a compression coat, proved capable of protecting a core tablet during conditions mimicking mouth-to-colon transit and was susceptible to enzymatic attack. In vivo gamma scintigraphic studies confirmed the in vitro findings. In all the volunteers, the pectin-coated tablets disintegrated in the colon indicating that site-specificity had been achieved and illustrating the potential of a colonic drug delivery system utilising pectin.