In the intricate landscape of pharmaceuticals, the active ingredients seldom stand alone; they find their potent expression in meticulously formulated preparations.
These formulations demand the synergy of active substances and supporting cast members known as excipients, ushering them into a realm of suitability and unwavering quality.
Professor Teuku Nanda Saifullah Sulaiman, a luminary in pharmaceutical technology, sheds light on the evolving dynamics of pharmaceutical preparations.
In his inauguration as a professor in pharmaceutical technology at the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy, held at the UGM Senate Hall on Thursday (Dec. 7), he delves into the pivotal role of excipients in crafting pharmaceutical preparations that epitomize excellence.
“Excipients, the unsung heroes of formulations, are safety-evaluated substances distinct from active ingredients. They play a crucial role in crafting pharmaceutical products of the highest quality,” said Professor Sulaiman, the Head of the Pharmaceutical Technology Laboratory.
“Any alteration in their quantity or quality resonates across the spectrum, affecting the product’s quality, safety, and efficacy.”
According to Professor Sulaiman, the meticulous selection of excipients is an art form critical to the formulation’s success. Ideal excipients, he notes, are pharmacologically inert, non-toxic, and maintain an unobtrusive coexistence with active ingredients and fellow excipients.
Their optimal concentrations and specific functions are linchpins for stability, bioavailability, and compatibility.
Professor Sulaiman champions the cause of natural excipients, emphasizing their relative safety compared to their semi-synthetic or synthetic counterparts.
The synthetic synthesis process, laden with impurities challenging to eradicate, renders natural resources an attractive wellspring for non-active raw materials.
Endowed with a wealth of natural resources, Indonesia emerges as a fertile ground for these non-active wonders.
Starch, cellulose, chitosan, and various polysaccharides, sourced from botanical treasures like carrageenan, alginate, gum arabic, guar gum, and carob gum, are gaining prominence for their diverse applications in pharmaceutical preparations.
“The burgeoning attention towards the development of natural excipients is a testament to their abundance and relative safety compared to their semi-synthetic or synthetic counterparts,” affirms the professor.
Starch, a stalwart in the realm of excipients, undergoes a metamorphosis through chemical and physical modifications.
Professor Sulaiman cites the widespread physical modifications of cassava starch and sago starch, aimed at imbuing them with excipient characteristics, thereby enhancing their role in tablet formulations.
As pharmaceutical horizons expand, the spotlight on natural excipients intensifies, marking a resurgence that aligns seamlessly with the ethos of safety, efficacy, and sustainable pharmaceutical advancements.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photographer: Firsto