Chapter 6 - Xanthan gum and its composite-based hydrogels

Abstract

Xanthan gum is a heteropolysaccharide obtained from the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. The gum is approved by USFDA for use in pharmaceutical and food industries and has been widely explored in pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. The structure and physicochemical and rheological properties of the gum have been studied in detail. Xanthan is also widely derivatized, and the modified gum is extensively utilized in diverse applications. In the pharmaceutical industry, the gum is used as a thickening, suspending, and emulsifying agent. It also finds wide applications as a biocompatible drug delivery carrier. In biomedical fields, it is used in bone and cartilage tissue regeneration. Xanthan gum also finds application in the petroleum industry and is an essential component of water-based drilling fluid compositions. In this chapter, we will try to present a detailed account of the source, structure, and physicochemical properties of the gum. This chapter will also elaborate the various modifications done on the gum and its applications in drug delivery and regenerative medicine fields.