FLOATING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS - A REVIEW

  Technological attempts have been made in the research and development of rate-controlled oral drug delivery systems to overcome physiological adversities, such as short gastric residence times (GRT) and unpredictable gastric emptying times (GET). It is known 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. This triggered the attention towards formulation of stomach specific (gastro retentive) dosage forms. This dosage forms will be very much useful to deliver ‘narrow absorption window’ drugs. Several approaches are currently utilized in the prolongation of the GRT, including floating drug delivery systems (FDDS), swelling and expanding systems, polymeric bioadhesive systems, high-density systems, modified-shape systems and other delayed gastric emptying devices. In this review, current & recent developments of Stomach Specific FDDS are discussed. Key words: floating drug delivery system, hydrodynamically balanced system, effervescent, non-effervescent, gastric residence time.