Carboxymethyl cellulose-based oral delivery systems.

For administration of therapeutic agents, the oral route is favored since it is comfortable to patients and also requires a reduced cost. Recently, a considerable amount of work has been reported on carboxymethyl cellulose as oral delivery systems. In contrast to all other polysaccharides having a profile in a pharmacopeia, carboxymethyl cellulose has a hydrophilic character because of its carboxylate groups. These carboxylate groups are responsible for properties such as in situ gellation, bioadhesion, sensitivity to environmental stimuli and controlled drug release. Most of these properties can even be further improved via chemical modifications. In this review, an overview of the carboxymethyl cellulose advantages for oral delivery systems is presented.