Application of N-hexoyl chitosan derivatives with high degree of substitution in the preparation of super-disintegrating pharmaceutical matrices

Abstract The present work investigated the utilization of degree of substitution in preparing N-hexoyl chitosan matrices with superdisintegration power. Different degrees of substitution of N-hexoyl chitosan (58, 67 and 75%) were prepared and evaluated. The study includes characterization of the derivatives using DSC, FTIR, surface tension, particle size, zeta potential, moisture uptake, powder flowability and powder porosity analysis. In addition, pressure-displacement, compact surface roughness using AFM, tensile strength, compact disintegration and dissolution studies. The studies indicated that the best superdisintegrant was due to the N-hexoyl chitosan with degree of substitution 57%. A compact of N-hexoyl chitosan with degree of substitution 57% showed water sorption more than 5 times increase of its initial weight. In addition, it showed a fast disintegration time i.e. less than 0.5 min. Such material could be a potential for the preparation of orodispersible tablets.