Vinay Kumar Singh.
Head-Formulation
Kumar Organic Products Research Centre Pvt. Ltd.,
Bengaluru
Email : formulation_krc@kopresearchcentre.net
Pullulan (Kopulan) is a linear glucosic polysaccharide produced by the polymorphic fungus Aureobasidium pullulans, which has long been applied for various applications from Pharmaceutical & food additives to environmental remediation agents.
Pullulan possesses some distinct properties such as excellent transparent film–forming ability, moisture absorptivity, water solubility, non-toxicity, and adhesivity. These properties allow pullulan to find potential applications in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and health care.
As an edible, mostly tasteless polymer, the chief commercial use of pullulan is in the manufacture of edible films that are used in various breath freshener or oral hygiene products such as Listerine Cool Mint of Johnson and Johnson (USA) and Meltz Super Thin Mints of Avery Bio-Tech Private India Ltd.
In the United States, the FDA approved pullulan as safe in 2002. In the European Union, it was recently approved as a food additive (E 1204) for use in capsules, tablets, and films under directive 2006/52/EC. Its use in the food industry is also permitted in several Asian countries, in Russia, and in some South American countries.
Pullulan Oral Strips
Pullulan strips are thin, edible films primarily used in the pharmaceutical and oral care industries as a film-forming agent for orally disintegrating films (ODFs) that deliver medications or act as breath fresheners. These biodegradable, oxygen-impermeable, and water-soluble strips are also used in the food industry as edible coatings or glazing agents for various products and have applications in cosmeceuticals due to their skin-tightening and deep-cleaning properties.
Uses of Pullulan Film Strips
• Oral Care and Pharmaceuticals:
Rapid dissolving dosage form (RDDFs) has become increasingly important because of their unique properties. They quickly disintegrate and dissolve, and can be administered without water, making them particularly suitable for pediatrics and geriatric patients.
Film formed were transparent, clear, shiny, homogeneous & smooth. Typical strips or films will be between 10-50 mm wide, and 10-50 mm long and weigh 20-100 mg. Maximum dissolution time for fast dissolving films is 60 sec and thickness 20-70μm.
As Pullulan film is formed it can be used to entrap flavors, colors and other active ingredients. Due to its excellent oxygen barrier properties these ingredients are effectively stabilized in the film. The film can then be cut to any size.
Such technology provides an innovative and ‘easy to use’ carrier and delivery system for a wide variety of ingredients. Furthermore as flavors are sealed in the film matrix such technology provides a means to deliver highly pungent materials which would otherwise need to be segregated.
Pullulan is a popular film-forming agent for ODFs used to deliver medications, such as anti-hypertensives, offering a fast-dissolving and convenient alternative to tablets and capsules.
Various actives can be administered using Pullulan strip as per below diagram.
We, at Kumar Organic Research Centre, have prepared Tobacco Strip.
Instant Dissolving Tobacco Strips
• Pullulan Strip with Tobacco can be administered Orally
• It dissolves quickly on Tongue
• Can deliver Controlled Dose
• Absorption is fast
• Quick Kick
• Can have nice flavor in mouth
• Disguised use possible
• No preparation time required & no additive required
• No Stain in Teeth or Gum
• No cavity or lesion, as in conventional use
Advantages of using pullulan strips in tobacco industries
• Pullulan Strips can be used as substitute of chewing tobacco.
• It may be used to administer low dosage of Nicotine for quitting Smoking.
• For habitual user, its convenient & premium way to continue habit
• Nuisance of habit related practice can be controlled.
Medicines in Strip.
Medicine can be incorporated in pullulan strip for its Sublingual administration by placing under the tongue to dissolve. They're absorbed by the tissue in this area before directly passing into the bloodstream. Advantage of sublingual route is to avoid drug destruction. Because gastric acid and intestinal and hepatic enzymes are bypassed, sublingual absorption can be more efficient overall for certain drugs than intestinal uptake. The onset of drug effect may also be quicker than with oral ingestion. Beyond ODFs, pullulan is explored as a carrier for targeted drug delivery in pharmaceuticals and biomedical applications, such as site-specific delivery to skin layers or for vaccines.
So far we have prepared Strips of Paracetamol & Hexyl resorcinol.
Neutraceuticals strip
Nutraceutical pullulan strips are edible or water-soluble strips used as a carrier for delivering nutraceuticals, like vitamins and minerals, directly to the body's mucous membranes for faster absorption. They are valued for their to taste-mask active ingredients, making them suitable for dietary supplements, oral care products, and even for promoting gut health as a prebiotic. We have prepared Neutraceutical strips to administer Neutraceutical like Moringa, Aloe vera etc.
Mouthfreshner
Edible, flavored films made from pullulan are used as breath fresheners that dissolve in the mouth.
Cosmetics & Home care Products
Cosmetics
We have done formulation of Face Wash Strip with Kopulan. This Face wash strip is composed of pullulan base with mild surfactants.This hydrating face was purifies & brightens te skin after every wash without stripping off the natural skin oils. It not only cleanses the skin of face but moisturises it and conditions it.
Home Care Products
We have prepared Detergent Strip, which can be put in Washing machine for cleansing clothes. It dissolves quickly in water to effectively remove dirt,oil and impurities. It also softens the cloth.
