SYNTHESIS OF COVALENTLY CROSSLINKED CHI- TOSAN-STARCH COPOLYMERS THROUGH REAC- TIVE BLENDING FOR ORAL DRUG DELIVERY

Chitosan and starch are well-known biopolymers having wide range of applications in various fields. Their physical and chemical limitations make their application span narrow. In this work, covalently cross linked copolymers of chitosan (CHI) and starch (ST) are synthesized via reactive blending. The blends studied with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). Drug loaded tablets were prepared and drug release studied in acidic environment. The results suggest that starch- chitosan blend prolonged the release of drug through the matrix tablet.