Inulin is a flexible oligosaccharide which has been used primarily in food for decades. Recently new applications in the pharmaceutical arena were described. In a previous review (Mensink et al. (2015). Carbohydrate Polymers, 130, 405) we described the physicochemical characteristics of inulin, characteristics which make inulin a highly versatile substance. Here, we review its pharmaceutical applications. Applications of inulin that are addressed are stabilization of proteins, modified drug delivery (dissolution rate enhancement and drug targeting), and lastly physiological and disease-modifying effects of inulin. Further uses of inulin include colon specific drug administration and stabilizing and adjuvating vaccine formulations. Overall, the uses of inulin in the pharmaceutical area are very diverse and research is still continuing, particularly with chemically modified inulins. It is therefore likely that even more applications will be found for this flexible oligosaccharide.
Inulin, a flexible oligosaccharide. II: Review of its pharmaceutical applications.
Maarten A. Mensink,H. Frijlink,K. van der Voort Maarschalk,W. Hinrichs
Published 2015 in Carbohydrate Polymers
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2015
- Venue
Carbohydrate Polymers
- Publication date
2015-12-10
- Fields of study
Medicine, Materials Science, Chemistry
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
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