Super Disintegrants in Tablet Formulation
Choosing the right super disintegrant is one of the most critical decisions in oral solid dosage form development. The two most widely used super disintegrants are Croscarmellose Sodium (CCS) and Sodium Starch Glycolate (SSG). Both are pharmacopoeially recognized, but they have distinct mechanisms and optimal use cases.
Maple Biotech Pvt. Ltd., a leading pharmaceutical excipient manufacturer in India, supplies both under the CEL-CA-DISSOL (CCS) and CELTAB (SSG) brands from our WHO-GMP certified facility in Pune.
Mechanism of Action
Croscarmellose Sodium (CCS) works by a dual mechanism: swelling and wicking. Its cross-linked polymer chains absorb water rapidly causing swelling, while capillary wicking draws water into the tablet matrix. This combination makes CCS one of the most effective disintegrants for direct compression tablets.
Sodium Starch Glycolate (SSG) works primarily by rapid swelling — it absorbs water and swells up to 200-300x its original volume within minutes, creating mechanical disruption of the tablet matrix. SSG is particularly effective for tablets manufactured by wet granulation.
Comparison: CCS vs SSG
| Property | CCS (CEL-CA-DISSOL) | SSG (CELTAB) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Swelling + wicking | Rapid swelling |
| Typical use level | 1–4% | 2–8% |
| Best manufacturing method | Direct compression | Wet granulation |
| Water uptake rate | Very fast | Fast |
| Effect of lubricants | Less sensitive | Moderately sensitive |
| USP types | Type A | Types A, B, C |
| Sodium content | Low | Types A–C range |
When to Choose CCS
- Direct compression tablet manufacturing
- Orally disintegrating tablets (ODT) — fast disintegration needed
- Formulations with low drug load
- When superior disintegration at low concentration is required
- Formulations with hydrophobic lubricants (less sensitive to magnesium stearate)
When to Choose SSG
- Wet granulation formulations
- Effervescent tablets (SSG Type C — low sodium)
- High-drug-load formulations where higher disintegrant level is acceptable
- Cost-sensitive formulations (SSG is generally lower cost)
- Formulations requiring sodium-restricted grades (SSG Type B or C)
Regulatory and Quality
Both CEL-CA-DISSOL CCS and CELTAB SSG from Maple Biotech are manufactured in our WHO-GMP and ISO 9001 certified facility and comply with USP, EP, and IP pharmacopoeia specifications. Complete analytical documentation (COA, MSDS) is provided with every shipment.
Contact us at sales@maplebiotech.co.in for samples and technical consultation. See our CCS product page and SSG product page.