Pharmacology & Pharmacy, 2011, 2, 194-198
doi:10.4236/pp.2011.23028 Published Online July 2011 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/pp)
Preparation and Characteristics of Film Dosage
from Natural Polysaccharides
Yoshifumi Murata1*, Kyoko Kofuji1, Norihisa Nishida2, Ryosei Kamaguchi2
1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Hokuriku University, Kanazawa, Japan; 2Morishita Jintan Co. Osaka Technocenter, Hirakata,
Japan.
Received May 2nd, 2011; revised June 2nd, 2011; accepted June 10th, 2011.
ABSTRACT
We investigated preparation of film dosage form (FD) from natural polysaccharides using the casting method without
organic solvents, heating or pH control. Ferulic acid (FA) and catechin were employed as model compounds incorpo-
rated in the FD, and the release profile of each compound from the form was investigated in the limited medium. Film
formation was affected by the addition of the model compound to the polysaccharide solution. Rigid FD was obtained
with 2% low-molecular-weight alginate (L-ALG; thickness, 65 µm), and it ha rdened after the addition of 0.5% polyga-
lacturonic acid, although the thickness of the film did not change. The FDs immediately released the model compound,
and the forms dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline. FD modification did not affect the FA release rate except in the
early stage. FD would be a useful dosage f orm, especially for preve nting or treating l ocalized problems in the or al cavity.
Keywords: Film Dosage Form, Natura l Polysaccharide, Sodium Alginate , Ferulic Acid, Catechin
1. Introduction
Film has been noted as a dosage form in the fields of
medicine and cosmetics [1,2]. The film dosage form (FD)
adheres to a surface when a little liquid is present on it,
and then the drug or another active compound incorpo-
rated in the film is released. The FD design results in the
distribution of the drug across the region to which the
form is attached. However, FD swells and erodes if it is
prepared with aqueous-soluble materials. For example,
fast-dissolving film is quickly disintegrated by saliva
when it is used in the oral cavity [3,4]. Recently, this
film has attracted interest not only for oral care but for
patients with aphagia or dysphagia as well [5,6].
Polymer compounds are generally utilized as the film’s
base. Some water-soluble polymers are especially useful
because of the safety in which the film is prepared and
applied to humans. For example, gelatin polypeptide is
the most popular one for film formation and has been
used as the base for capsule preparation [7]. First, aque-
ous gelatin solution is prepared, and then, a cross- link-
ing agent such as glutaraldehyde is added to stabilize the
film. Agar, a polysaccharide has also been studied as a
potential material for film preparation. In general, agar
dissolves in water by heating, and the resultant solution
is then cooled and dried for film formation. In the case of
FD preparation, active compounds such as drugs are
added to the polymer solution. Therefore, the chemical
or thermal stability of the compound must be incorpo-
rated when FD is prepared using these polymers. On the
other hand, some polysaccharides can dissolve in aque-
ous solution without heat and form the film in dry sol-
vent. For example, neutral polysaccharides such as pul-
lulan (PUL) and acidic polysaccharides such as sodium
alginate (ALG) and sodium chondroitin sulfate (CHS)
are known film bases [8-11]. Although FD is readily
prepared using these aqueous polysaccharides, film for-
mation is affected in th e presence of additives, in cluding
drugs.
In this study, we investigated the preparation of FD
from natural polysaccharides without dissolving in or-
ganic solvents, heating, controlling the pH or adding a
plasticizer such as sorbitol, fatty acid or polyvinyl alco-
hol. Ferulic acid (FA) and catechin (CA) were employed
as mod el co mp o und s . FA is an an ti-o x id iz ing ag en t an d a
part of the human diet [12], and its physiological action
mitigates lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension,
hyperlipidemia, and diabetes [13-15]. CA is a polyphenol
compound and a component of green tea that used for
beverages [16]. The model compound is expected to be
active following dissolution in body fluids such as saliva

Preparation and Characteristics of Film Dosage from Natural Polysaccharides195
upon oral FD administration [17,18]. Therefore, the re-
lease profile of each FD compound was investigated in
limited dissolution medium.
2. Experimental
2.1. Materials
Low-molecular-weight alginate (L-ALG) was obtained
from Alfa Aesar (Ward Hill, MA, USA), and high-mo-
lecular weight alginate (H-ALG), from Nacalai Tesque
Inc. (300 cps, Kyoto, Japan). Pullulan (PUL) was sup-
plied by Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories (Okaya-
ma, Japan), and a polysaccharide produced by Bifido-
bacterium longum JBL05 (BPS) was supplied by Mor-
ishita Jintan (Osaka, Japan) [19]. CHS (C type) and
phos- phate-buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.4) were pur-
chased from Wako Pure Chemicals (Osaka, Japan). Chi-
tosan (CS; degree of deacetylation: 75% - 85%) was ob-
tained from Kimitsu Chem. Ind. (Tokyo, Japan). Hy-
droxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (AS-HF
type; HPMC) was obtained from Shinetsu Chem. Co.
(Tokyo, Japan). A polygalacturonic acid (PGA) was
purchased from MP Biomedicals (Solon, OH, USA) and
another (pectic acid) from Wako Pure Chemical. FA was
purchased from Tsuno Food Ind. Co. Ltd. (Wakayama,
Japan). (+)-Catechin hydrate (CA) was purchased from
Spectrum Chemical MFG. Co. (New Brunswick, NJ,
USA). All other chemic al s we re of reagent grade.
2.2. FD Preparation
Each polysaccharide solution (0.5% - 4%) was prepared
using deionized water. A model compound was added to
the polysaccharide solution and mixed well, and 3.0 g of
the solution was poured into a p lastic Petri dish (diameter,
54 mm). After 24 h at 37˚C, the film formed on the dish
was transferred into a desiccator. Film formation was
judged to not have occurred if a film could not be re-
moved from the bottom of the dish.
2.3. Film Thickness and Rheological Properties
Film thickness was measured at 10 points on each film
using a micrometer (CLM1-15QM; Mitutoyo, Kawasaki,
Japan) with a set pressure of 0.5 N. Measurements were
made on 3 films, and the mean thickness was calculated.
The rheological properties of each film were determined
using a rheometer (SUN RHEO TEX SD-700#; Sun
Scientific Co., Tokyo, Japan) at room temperature. The
film was fixed on a vial (inner diameter, 1.4 mm; outer
diameter, 18.8 mm) using joining tape (Scotch mending
tape; Sumitomo 3M Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) and probed with
a cylindrical adapter (diameter, 5.0 mm). Stress and
strain were measured at the point at which the adapter
broke through the film. All tests were performed in trip-
licate.
2.4. X-Ray Diffractometry
X-ray diffractometry was carried out using an automatic
diffractometer (D8 DISCOVER with GADDS; Bruker
AXS K.K., Yokohama, Japan) with a voltage of 40 kV
and a current of 40 mA. The results of X-ray diffraction
were interpreted using a computer program (Bruker AXS
K.K.).
2.5. Dissolution Test
Physiological saline or PBS (pH 7.4) was used as the
dissolution test medium. A film was placed in a plastic
dish, and 10 mL of dissolution medium incubated at
37˚C was added. The dish was shaken at 300 rpm in a
shaker incubato r at 37 ˚C. An 80 µL aliquot was removed
periodically and placed in a micro test tube (1.5 mL) and
720 µL of methanol was added to precipitate the poly-
saccharide dissolved from the dosage form. The sample
was mixed and centrifuged (10,000 rpm, 5 min), and
then, the supernatant was injected into a high-perform-
ance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column. All tests
were performed in triplicate. The HPLC system had an
LC-6A pump (Shimadzu Co., Kyoto), a packed column
(150 mm × 4.6 mm; Cosmosil 5C18-MS-II; Nacalai Tes-
que, Kyoto), and a SPD-6A UV detector (Shimadzu Co.).
For determination of FA, HPLC was conducted at an
ambient temperature using an eluent containing 10
mmol/L phosphate buffer (pH 4.7) and methanol (8:2) at
a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min [20]. The detector wavelength
was set as 260 nm, and an eluent comprising 0.1% citric
acid and acetonitrile (87:13) was used to quantify CA;
the detector wavelength was then set to 280 nm [21].
3. Results and Discussions
To form circular film using the casting method, 1 - 4%
solution of each polysaccharide was prepared without
heating and poured into a Petri dish. The solvent was
then evaporated. The film formation was affected by
adding FA or CA to the polymer solution. Neither 4%
CHS nor 1.5% H-ALG adequately utilized the FD mate-
rials containing 3 mg FA. In addition, 4% CHS did not
form a circular film, while 1.5% H-ALG formed a fragile
film (Figure 1). On the other hand, 4% PUL formed a
rigid film for which the thickness and the stress were 51
± 2 µm and > 500 kPa, respectively. Additionally, 0.5%
BPS formed a soft film (thickness, 52 ± 2 µm; stress, ~
50 kPa). In the case of 2% L-ALG, a circular film
(thickness, 65 ± 1 µm) was obtained that could be modi-
fied through addition of other polysaccharides such as
PGA. Both 4% PUL and 2% L-ALG formed circular
films when CA was include in the film base (Figure 2).

Preparation and Characteristics of Film Dosage from Natural Polysaccharides 196
Figure 1. FDs prepared using various polysaccharides con-
taining FA (3 mg).
Figure 2. FDs prepared using various polysaccharides con-
taining CA (1.5 mg).
Table 1. FD thicknesses prepared using various polysac-
charides containing 3 mg FA.
Film base Additive Thickness (µm) SD (µm)
2% L-ALG 65 1
0.5% CS 96 6
1% CS 144 3
1% EC 87 2
1% HPMC 56 5
1% CHS 55 4
1% pectic acid 60 2
0.1% PGA 70 1
0.5% PGA 67 4
1% PGA 71 3
1.5% PGA 75 1
2% PGA 70 0
3% L-ALG 49 8
1.5% H-ALG 1% PGA 59 2
The actual drug contents calculated by the weights of
dried films were 6.6% (1.5% H-ALG), 4.2% (2% L-ALG)
and 2.5% (4% PUL), respectively.
Table 1 shows the thickness of the film prepared using
L-ALG or H-ALG as a film b ase. The thicknesses of the
films prepared with 2% L-ALG containing each poly-
saccharide except for 1% CS were < 100 µm. When FD
was prepared using 2% L-ALG thickened by the addition
of 0.5% CS; however, the increment of thickness did not
necessarily increase FD hardness (Figure 3). A more
rigid film was obtained by the addition of 0.5% PGA to
Figure 3. Rheological properties of FDs containing 3 mg FA.
Closed circle: 2% L-ALG; open circle: 2% L-ALG + 0.5%
CS; open square: 2% L-ALG + 0.5% PGA.
Figure 4. X-ray diffractograms. A: FA (powder); B: 1.5%
H-ALG film (FA free); C: 1.5% H-ALG film containing
FA.
2% L-ALG, although film thickness did not change.
Figure 4 shows the X-ray diffraction p attern s obtain ed
from FA powder and FDs prepared with 1.5% H-ALG;
FA exhibited a characteristic crystalline compound pat-
tern of diffraction. On the other hand, FD containing FA
showed a pattern which lacked the characteristic diffrac-
tion peaks of FA. This result shows that the crystal form
of FA is only slightly pr esent in FD.
FD is expected to release the compound contained in
the dosage form upon contact with saliva, which is se-
creted from the salivary glands at 0.5 - 0.6 L/day (1.5 -
2.0 mL/min when stimulated) [22]. In this study, a film
was soaked in 10 mL of PBS buffer (pH 7.4), and the
released amount of FA or CA was then measured. The
release profiles of FA from the FDs prepared using the
different polysaccharides are shown in Figure 5. All FDs
subsequently swelled in the dissolution medium and re-
leased FA incorporated in the FDs with disintegration. In
particular, FD prepared with H-ALG or BPS quickly
C opyright © 2011 SciRes. PP

Preparation and Characteristics of Film Dosage from Natural Polysaccharides197
Figure 5. Release profiles of FA from FDs in PBS (pH 7.4).
Figure 6. The release profile of FA from FDs prepared with
2% L-ALG.
dissolved and released the total amount of FA at 5 - 10
min. When 2% L-ALG or 4% PUL was used, the FA was
released for about 30 min. A similar release profile was
obtained using FD prepared with 3% L-ALG. In FDs,
model compounds such as FA are dispersed in water-
soluble polymer matrices, and the FA particles may dis-
solve in the dissolution medium as the film erodes. The
release rate was affected by the property of the com-
pound incorporated in the FD. CA was also released
immediately; for example, the total amount contained in
the FD prepared with 2% L-ALG was released at 10 min
(data not shown). The release profile was attributed to
the high solubility of CA in th e dissolution medium, and
the rapid release rate was also observed from the FD
prepared with 4% PUL.
FD prepared with 2% L-ALG that was modified
through addition of CS, HPMC, or CHS did not affect
FA release (Figure 6). On the other hand, the initial re-
lease rate of FA was depressed when FD modified
through the addition of PGA. A similar additive effect
was observed in FD modified with pectic acid. Depres-
sion of the FA release rate through the addition of PGA
to 2% L-ALG was restricted at an extremely early stage,
Figure 7. Effect of PGA concentration on the release profile
of FA from FDs prepared with 2% L-ALG.
and the rapid release was observed after the film swelled
(Figure 7).
4. Conclusions
In this study, FDs were prepared using natural polysac-
charides without dissolving them into organic solvents,
heating them, controlling their pH, or adding plasticizers.
Some of these polysaccharides were able to incorporate
model compounds such as FA or CS, and all FDs imme-
diately released them as the forms eroded in the limited
dissolution medium. FD is a useful dosage form, espe-
cially for preventing or treating localized prob lems in the
oral cavity including dental caries and periodontal dis-
eases. However, the drug loading capacity of FD is typi-
cally very low; therefore, the compounds incorporated in
the FD should be carefully selected.
5. Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Dr. M Kimizu (Indus-
trial Research Institute of Ishikawa) for his help and ad-
vice on X-ray Diff r actometry experiment.
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