SUPERDISINTEGRANTS: AN OVERVIEW

Oral route is the most common route for administration of solid dosage form, about 85% of solid dosage administered by oral route. Disintegration plays major role in improving the drug activity. Disintegrants are substances added to the drug formulation that increase the breakup of the tablet or capsule into smaller particles in aqueous environment that dissolve more rapidly than in the absence of disintegrants. Nowadays some newer agents have been developed known as Superdisintegrants.Superdisintegrants are the substances, which facilitate the faster disintegration with smaller quantity in contrast to disintegrants. These are of two type’s natural and synthetic superdisintegrants. Superdisintegrants are generally used at a low level in the solid dosage form, typically 1- 10 % by weight relative to the total weight of the dosage unit. These are used to improve the efficacy of solid dosage form. Examples of superdisintegrants are sodium starch glycolate, crospovidone, Gellan gum etc.