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Glucomannan (GM) is a polysaccharide generally extracted from the tuber of Amorphophallus konjac. It consists of mannose and glucose residues linked by β-(1-4) and exhibits hydrocolloid characteristics which can be applied as thickening and gelling agents. However, it has poor water resistance and low mechanical strength when used as an excipient in solid form. Several physical and chemical modifications have been carried out to improve these drawbacks. Chemical modification involves the substitution of functional groups in GM’s structure including esterification and etherification. It causes a decrease in its high hydrophilic film behavior and produce water-resistant films. Physical modification involves mixing native GM with other excipients through processes involving milling, moisture, temperature, pressure, radiation, etc. It causes variations to particle size, shape, surface properties, porosity, density, and to functional properties such as swelling capacity and gelation ability
GM is a natural heteropolysaccharide with a linear chain consisting of D-glucose and/or D-mannose in various proportions linked by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds. It also has multiple branching at β-1,3 glycosidic bonds to mannose units as shown in Figure 1 [30].
The molecular weight varies from 200,000 to 2,000,000 Daltons, giving it incredibly higher viscosity than any known dietary fiber such as guar or locust bean gum [31][32]. When GM sol concentration is below 0.55%, it is only slightly affected by shear rate, indicating Newtonian fluid flow characteristics. However, at higher concentrations, shear rate can affect viscosity, leading to shear thinning and indicating non-Newtonian pseudoplasticity [33]. Based on previous reports, the viscosity of konjac glucomannan solution (1.0 g/100 g) can reach ~30,000 cps [34].
Figure 1. Structure of glucomannan.
Chemical modification of CMGM affects solubility; carboxymethylation with NaOH catalyst substitutes chloroacetic acid with a hydroxyl group, which partially replaces hydroxyl and acetyl groups with carboxymethyl [2][48][49][58]. Incorporation of a carboxymethyl group appears as an extending chain structure that reduces hydrogen bonding between the polymer chains and increases the water-binding capacity, as shown in Figure 2 below.
Figure 2 CMGM synthesis pathway.
Figure 3. Effect of carboxymethylation on the structure of GM.
Generally, the presence of more -COO- groups due to carboxymethylation of the CMGM backbone improves gel strength by forming more crosslinks, while a high DS also increases mechanical strength [15]. The introduced COO− group can efficiently bind more water, which can act as a plasticizer to improve elongation of the film [68]. As the DS of CMGM increases, formed pore size decreases and the tissue structure becomes denser, indicating stronger interaction at higher DS [55]. This high density also increases tablet strength [3][24], but an excessive amount of CMGM causes charge repulsion, thereby weakening its mechanical properties [48].
CMGM maintains the gel network through hydrogen bonding upon heating to 95 °C for 2 h, implying excellent thermal stability [15]. Carboxymethylation increases the thermal stability of GM in a DS-dependent manner. Based on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), GM is degraded in three stages. TGA recorded a change in mass due to moisture removal from 60–200 °C. Meanwhile, from 200–300 °C, great weight loss was recorded in GM, CMGM (DS 0.28), and (DS 0.7), with values of 64.16%, 49.73%, and 43.17%, respectively. In the final stage of decomposition at a temperature of 300–500 °C, there was a greater decrease in mass change in GM than in CMGM due to thermal degradation [2].
Table 1. Co-processed GM with other excipients.
Combination of Excipients | Co-Processed | Application | Mechanism | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
GM and HPMC K 100 LV | Microwave on level 5 (350 W) for 30 min | Matrix for gastro-retentive tablets forming a porous channel that allows the polymer mixture to absorb more water and expand, followed by prolonged drug release | Hydrogen bonds in single polymers have low energy, but the simultaneous formation of interlinked hydrogen bonds between polymer components provides significant interaction strength, resulting in a matrix that floats quickly and maintains the integrity of the polymer mixture under acidic conditions. | [71] |
GM and lactose | Wet granulation | Filler–binder for direct compression of effervescent tablets | GM has a high viscosity and strong adhesive properties, thus providing good tablet binding effectiveness. GM has poor solubility in water, so it is combined with lactose as a water-soluble ingredient and to improve the poor flowability of lactose. | [72] |
GM, sodium alginate (SA), and graphene oxide (GO) | Freeze dried | Microsphere-making polymers that enhance targeted delivery of drugs or nutrients to the colon | GM interacts with SA via hydrogen bonding and physical entanglement, and GO enhances these interactions in the microspheres. In addition, GO can greatly improve the loading efficiency of ciprofloxacin (CPFX) of microspheres, and achieve the sustained release effect of CPFX. | [26] |
Oxidized GM, cassava starch, and sucrose esters | Dry heated | The OGM–CS combination exhibits low solubility and swellability, which makes it a possible excipient for the formulation of sustained-release drugs. However, the addition of SE significantly decreased porosity and swelling of the tablets, which inhibited immediate drug release. | Heating OGM and CS to high temperatures causes structural damage that limits the solubility and swelling ability of the polymer. The addition of SE with HLB 5 decreased porosity and slowed drug release because the more closed structure inhibited free movement of the drug out of the matrix. In addition, more hydroxyl groups in SE form hydrogen bonds, increasing intergranular bonding. |
[58] |
CMGM and 2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) | Complex coacervation and freeze dried | The coaservation complex formed can encapsulate and control the release of the molecular model for the vaccine, namely ovalbumin (OVA). | The anionic carboxyl group of CMGM and the cationic quaternary amine group of HACC cause intramolecular electrostatic attraction that causes the HACC and CMGM macromolecular chains to aggress and coil, forming the CMGM/HACC composite nanosphere. | [23] |
GM is a polysaccharide that has promise as an excipient for solid dosage forms, especially for direct compression due to its free-flowing nature and compressibility. Some applications of chemically or physically modified GM have been reported. Chemical modification is suggested to modify the solubility, viscosity, and mechanical properties of GM, while physical modification of GM is suggested to modify swelling ability and drug release from the matrix. Although chemical and physical modifications of GM have been studied, compared to other polysaccharides such as chitosan or alginate, the studies are not wide or deep enough. The mechanisms behind the effects of modifications on pharmaceutical characteristics, such as the relationship between structure and functionality/application of modified GM, are not clearly understood. Thus, the study of mechanisms of modified GM is necessary for its development as a potential pharmaceutical excipient.
In recent years, a wide variety of innovative approaches to modify GM have been developed through non-contaminating physical modification methods (green methods) such as microwave heating, ultrasound-assisted and hydrothermal processes, and ball milling. In addition, exploration of other plants as sources of GM may also be conducted to create a wider range of functionalities, which also may expand applicability.