RIVIEW: POLIMER ALAMI YANG DIGUNAKAN DALAM FARMASI

Abstrak

Polimer alami semakin banyak digunakan dalam formulasi sediaan farmasi karena sifatnya yang biokompatibel, biodegradabel, dan mudah diperoleh dari sumber hayati lokal. Review ini menganalisis penggunaan berbagai polimer alami pada sediaan farmasi dan kosmetik berdasarkan 40 jurnal nasional dan internasional. Pati, gelatin, kolagen, kitosan, pektin, guar gum, xanthan gum, dan natrium alginat merupakan polimer yang paling sering digunakan dalam sediaan seperti gel, hidrogel, masker peel-off, krim, lotion, spray gel, tablet lepas lambat, nanopartikel, dan edible film. Sebagian besar studi melaporkan bahwa jenis dan konsentrasi polimer sangat memengaruhi viskositas, pH, homogenitas, waktu kering, daya sebar, dan stabilitas. Beberapa polimer seperti kitosan, kolagen, dan gelatin juga memberikan aktivitas tambahan berupa sifat antimikroba, mucoadhesive, atau kemampuan membentuk film. Tantangan utama terkait variabilitas bahan baku alami dan ketidakstabilan viskositas, sehingga diperlukan optimasi formulasi. Secara keseluruhan, polimer alami memiliki potensi besar sebagai eksipien atau komponen aktif pendukung dalam formulasi modern yang lebih aman dan ramah lingkungan.

Natural polymers are increasingly used in pharmaceutical formulations due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and availability from local biological sources. This review analyzes the use of various natural polymers in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations based on 40 national and international journals. Starch, gelatin, collagen, chitosan, pectin, guar gum, xanthan gum, and sodium alginate were identified as the most commonly utilized polymers in dosage forms such as gels, hydrogels, peel-off masks, creams, lotions, spray gels, sustained-release tablets, nanoparticles, and edible films. Most studies report that polymer type and concentration strongly influence viscosity, pH, homogeneity, drying time, spreadability, and stability. Some polymers, including chitosan, collagen, and gelatin, also provide added antimicrobial, mucoadhesive, or film-forming benefits. Challenges mainly relate to variability of natural raw materials and viscosity instability, indicating the need for formulation optimization. Overall, natural polymers show significant potential as excipients or supportive active components in safer and more eco-friendly modern formulations.