Abstract

The recent scientific and patented literature concluded that an increased interest in novel dosage forms which retained in the stomach for prolong and predictable period of time has been shown. Various technological attempts have been made in the research and development of rate controlled oral drug delivery systems to overcome physiological diversities, as short gastric residence times and unpredictable gastric emptying times using gastro retentive drug delivery system. The present study attempts to give an insight into the gastro-retentive drug delivery systems, and gastric floating dosage forms, in particular. These have attracted the interest of many formulators due to their advantages over the conventional drug delivery systems, recently. The study highlights these advantages with reference to the various types of gastro retentive drug delivery systems, as well as provides an overview of the recent advances that have taken place in this arena. It is a well known fact that differences in gastric physiology such as, gastric pH and motility exhibit both intra as well as inter-subject variability demonstrating significant impact on gastric retention time and drug delivery behavior. Various attempts have been made to develop gastroretntive systems. Several approaches are currently utilized in the prolongation of the GRT, including floating drug livery system, swelling and expanding systems, polymeric Bioadhesive systems, high- density systems, modified-shape systems and other delayed gastric emptying devices. Floating dosage forms are emerging as a promising dosage forms. Floating dosage forms can be prepared as tablets, capsules by adding suitable ingredients as well as by adding gas generating gent. In this review various techniques used in floating dosage forms along with current and recent developments of stomach specific floating drug delivery systems for gastro retention are discussed.

Authors and Affiliations