AICELLO CHEMICAL COMPANY LTD (Head office: Aichi Japan, President Hirokazu Ito) and FREUND CORPORATION (Head office: Tokyo Japan, President Tetsuo Hori) have jointly developed Chitosan-coating technology in order for the realization of colon-specific Drug Delivery System (DDS).
Using standard film coaters, this newly developed Chitosan-coating liquid can produce a water-resistant membrane on the surface of a tab or pill. A colon-specific DDS can be achieved by adding an enteric coating on the Chitosan coated tab or pills. (see Picture 1)

Picture 1: Structure of Colon Specific Drug (tablet)

Background and Development
DDS (drug delivery system) is being recognized as a system in which drugs can be targeted to specific areas to treat patients more effectively and reduce the risk of side effects. Colon-specific DDS can be administered orally to specifically target the large intestine (Picture 2). It is anticipated that the Colon specific DDS is able to improve the effectiveness of medications for applications which target large intestinal disease, supplements for improving intestinal flora and other intestinal medicine.

Picture 2: Behavior of colon specific delivery system using Chitosan in Alimentary Canal

AICELLO CHEMICAL uses the highly safe ingredient, Chitosan as the chief ingredient for the development of Chitosan hard capsules as well as developed colon-specific DDS with enteric coating. We have pioneered and commercialized bifidobacteria capsules as a colon-specific DDS supplement. Colon-specific DDS has caught the attention from the pharmaceutical and health food markets and it is expected that the technology may be applied for pills and granules.

AICELLO CHEMICAL and FREUND CORPORATION have jointly developed a Chitosan-coating technology to achieve a colon-specific DDS. We believe that this technology makes it possible to transform any shapes and sizes of medicine into a colon-specific DDS.

【Characteristics】

• Solution and film coating method that use Chitosan as the main ingredient.
• Chitosan membrane can be formed on the surface of an object with s standard coater.
• Chitosan membranes dissolve in acid, are biodegradable but water-resistant.
• Colon-specific DDS can be achieved by coating with an enteric layer over the Chitosan membrane.
• Can be applied to various shapes and sizes; such as pills, capsules, granules, etc.
• International patent pending.