A new pH-responsive carrier matrix was designed from combination of shellac (Sh), hydroxpropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and acrylic acid (AA). Characterization of materials was done using various advanced instrumentation techniques. The kinetics of thermal decomposition of materials were studied and compared using Coats-Redfern (CR) and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) mathematical models. The Arrhenius equations for thermal decomposition of shellac and chemically modified shellac (Sh-HPMC-AA) were computed to be k = (3.4 x 10(21)) e(-159.9/RT) and k = (141.8) e(-19.6/RT) s(-1), respectively. The pH-responsive characteristics of Sh-HPMC-AA shows 288% swelling ratio. Further, the controlled release of 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA) was studied in buffer medium and Fick's diffusion equation was applied for calculation of transport phenomenon. The enzymatic degradation study of Sh-HPMC-AA is also reported.