Gum-Based Drug Delivery Systems

In the emerging research, utilization of gums as pharmaceutical excipient in novel drug delivery systems has become a fascinating field due to its widespread accessibility, non-toxicity and reasonable prices. Through pulmonary drug deliv- ery, various respiratory disorders like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and asthma can be treated effectively. Due to their high bioavailability and lack of first-pass effect in a variety of pharmaceutical formulations, including nanoparticles, hydrogels, scaffolds, nanocrystals, microspheres, thickeners in oral liquids and hydrocolloids in suspensions, gums derived from plants have recently attracted a great deal of interest in pulmonary drug delivery. Gums are an appropriate excipient used in various pharmaceutical formulations because of its viscosity, adhesive nature, interfacial properties and stability. Our present book chapter focuses on natural gum importance in pulmonary drug delivery system (PDDS), classification of gums, an overview of pharmaceutically important gums like Abelmoschus gum, cashew gum, Albizia gum, tamarind gum, almond gum, Odina gum, Ferula gum in treating respiratory diseases.