Applications of Carrageenan in Advanced Drug Delivery

Abstract Carrageenan (CG) is a sulphated linear polysaccharide of d -galactose and 3, 6-anhydro- d -galactose obtained by extraction of certain red seaweeds of the Rhodophyceae class. The objective of this chapter is to provide comprehensive introduction of CG and summarize the main applications of CG in pharmaceutical fields. First of all, sources and production of CG, structure and physicochemical properties of CG, biological properties of CG, and toxicity of CG were described. Thereafter, applications of CG in conventional drug delivery were introduced. CG has been investigated as an excipient in pharmaceutical industry including as a release modifier in controlled release tablets, formation of CG-drug complex for sustained release, CG based gelling drug delivery system, as an additive to improve the dissolution of poorly soluble drugs and as a permeability enhancer. Moreover, applications of CG in advanced drug delivery, such as for the delivery of anticancer drugs, proteins, genes, and cells, was summarized. Some other potential applications are still under exploration. In conclusion, CG is a promising biopolymer for drug delivery, still, detailed safety evaluation of CG based drug delivery system is essential in the near future despite of its wide application in food industry.