Gastroretentive drug delivery system

Peptic ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by mucosal damage in the stomach or duodenum due to an imbalance between aggressive factors such as gastric acid and protective mucosal defense. Conventional anti-ulcer drugs, although effective, are often associated with high cost and adverse effects. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop and evaluate polyherbal floating tablets as a safer and more effective alternative for gastric ulcer management. The formulation incorporated extracts of Annona squamosa with sodium bicarbonate as a gas-generating agent to enhance buoyancy and prolong gastric retention. Tablets were prepared using the direct compression method by blending plant extracts with suitable polymers and excipients. The prepared formulations were evaluated for physicochemical properties and showed satisfactory results. The floating drug delivery system demonstrated potential for prolonged gastric residence time, which may improve therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.

Gastroretentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) have emerged as an advanced approach to overcome the limitations of conventional oral dosage forms by prolonging gastric residence time and improving drug bioavailability. The objective of these systems is to remain buoyant in gastric fluid for extended periods, allowing controlled release of drugs and enhanced absorption of medications with limited absorption windows. Floating tablets achieve buoyancy using low-density excipients, such as gas-generating substances like sodium bicarbonate, or swellable polymers like hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). Formulation strategies generally employ polymeric matrices, effervescent components, or coating technologies to regulate release kinetics and enhance stability. Evaluation parameters, such as floating lag time, total floating duration, and in vitro and in vivo correlation, are essential for assessing system performance. GRDDS can improve the therapeutic efficacy of medicines used in gastrointestinal disorders and those requiring localized gastric delivery. Despite significant advancements, variability in gastric motility and physiological factors limit the reproducibility and scalability of formulations. This review consolidates current progress and identifies future directions for optimized gastroretentive floating tablet technology.

The oral route of drug delivery is most preferred route of drug delivery due to its various advantages like patient compliance, ease of administration. But it has some drawbacks like non site specificity. To overcome this drawback gastroretentive drug delivery system is used. To understand various physiological difficulties to achieve gastric retention, we have summarized important factors controlling gastric retention. This review also includes different approaches for Gastroretentive drug delivery system i.e. floating drug dosage systems, swelling or expanding systems, high density system, mucoadhesive systems, Magnetic systems, raft forming system, evaluation tests, advantages, disadvantages, future prospects, different marketed preparations.

Gastroretentive dosage forms have potential for use as controlled-release drug delivery systems. The use of floating dosage forms is one method to achieve prolonged gastric residence times, providing opportunity for both local and systemic drug action. The present work was aimed to formulate floating tablets of Itopride hydrochloride using an effervescent approach for gastroretentive drug delivery system. The present investigation concerns the development of floating tablets of Itopride hydrochloride, a novel prokinetic drug, which after oral administration are designed to prolong the gastric residence time and thereby increase drug bioavailability, and drug release rate. This would help in promoting gastrointestinal transit and speed up gastric motility, and thereby it will relieve the symptoms associated with it. Floating tablets were fabricated; using direct compression method; containing Itopride hydrochloride, polymers HPMC K100M, HPMC K15M and HPMC K4M, along with gas generating agent sodium bicarbonate. The floating tablet formulations were evaluated for physical characterization, assay, swelling index, in‐vitro drug release, hardness, friability and weight variation.