Carboxymethylated and Cross-Linked Tapioca Starch as a Multifunctional Excipient for Hydrochlorothiazide Tablet Formulation Modified Tapioca Starch for Direct Tableting
International Pharmacy Acta,
Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026),
11 October 2026
,
Page e4: 1-10
https://doi.org/10.22037/ipa.v9i1.51010
Abstract
Tapioca starch is an abundant, low-cost natural polymer with limited direct application in tablet formulations due to poor flowability and compressibility. This study aimed to improve its functionality through carboxymethylation and cross-linking, and to evaluate its performance as a multifunctional excipient in hydrochlorothiazide tablet formulation. Tapioca starch was carboxymethylated using sodium monochloroacetate at different NaOH concentrations (1.0–5.0 M) and subsequently cross-linked with sodium trimetaphosphate. The degree of substitution and reaction efficiency were determined. Powder flow, compressibility, FTIR, and XRD analyses were performed. Tablet properties were evaluated using hardness, friability, and dissolution testing. The degree of substitution peaked at 1.5 M NaOH (0.44 ± 0.22) with the highest reaction efficiency. Carboxymethylation improved flow properties (Carr’s index reduced from 30.7% to 13–22%), while cross-linking further enhanced compressibility (Carr’s index 11–14%). Tablets formulated with cross-linked carboxymethylated tapioca starch (cCMTS) demonstrated superior mechanical strength (hardness 9.5–14.3 kgf) and low friability (<1%). FTIR confirmed successful modification without drug–excipient interaction, and XRD showed retention of A-type crystallinity. Dissolution testing revealed rapid drug release (80 - 85% in 45 min) for low DS batches and slower release for highly modified batches, indicating tunable functionality. Carboxymethylation and cross-linking transformed tapioca starch into a multifunctional excipient with excellent flow, compressibility, and adjustable release characteristics. This work provides a novel, cost-effective excipient platform for both immediate and controlled release formulations, with significant implications for local pharmaceutical manufacturing in resource-limited settings.
- Compressible starch
- Highly functional starch
- Directly compressible starch
How to Cite
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