Synthesis, characterization and in vitro release behavior of carboxymethyl xanthan

► Carboxymethyl xanthan gum was synthesized and characterized using FT-IR, DSC, powder X-ray diffraction and SEM. ► Diclofenac sodium matrix tablets formulated using carboxymethyl xanthan showed higher drug release in comparison to xanthan. ► The drug release was found to follow zero-order kinetics.