Which of the following are examples of jelly agents used to form gels?

• A. Carboxymethyl cellulose
• B. Gelatin
• C. Surfactants
• D. Carbomer, cellulose derivatives, natural gums

Answer: (D)

Forming a gel relies on polymers that build a three-dimensional network in water, trapping the liquid to create a jelly-like structure. Carbomer, cellulose derivatives, and natural gums are the main classes used in pharmaceutics for this purpose. Carbomer is a crosslinked acrylic polymer that gels when neutralized; cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and carboxymethyl cellulose swell and form gels through network formation; natural gums like xanthan gum, guar gum, carrageenan, and alginates gel via hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions. This broad group covers the typical gel-forming agents used to make jelly-like dosage forms across synthetic, semi-synthetic, and natural polymer systems. Surfactants don’t form gels on their own, and while gelatin can form gels, it’s less representative of the common jelly-forming polymers in many pharmaceutical gels, so the listed category is the best fit.