Floating tablet

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 aim of present research work was to formulate gastro retentive floating tablets containing Ritonavir. The floating tablets of Ritonavir was formulated by direct compression technique using natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic polymers such as gellan gum, HPMC K4M, and carbopol 971p. Sodium bicarbonate was used as gas generating agent. FTIR studies revealed that there is no interaction between the drug and the polymers used in the formulation. Prepared Ritonavir tablets were evaluated by various quality parameters including weight variation, hardness, friability, drug content, tablet density, floating test, swelling index, in-vitro drug release and showed satisfactory results. Formulations F2, F5, F6 showed satisfactory drug release of 90.3%, 94.3%, and 97.7% respectively. The optimized batch F6  shows good results and extended drug release.

The purpose of writing this review article on gastro- retentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) have been developed; the principle mechanism of floatation to achieve gastric retention. The recent developments of (FDSS) including the physiological and formulation variables affecting the gastric retention. Several techniques such as floating drug delivery system, low density systems, raft systems, mucoadhesive systems, high density systems, super- porous hydro- gels and magnetic systems, have been employed. Floating drug delivery systems have a bulk density less than gastric fluids and so, remain buoyant in the stomach for a prolonged period of time, releasing the drug slowly at the desired rate from the system. Dosage forms available as gastric floating systems include tablets, capsules, granules and microspheres.

The objective of this research work was to formulate and evaluate the floating drug delivery system containing Pantoprazole sodium sesquihydrate as a model drug and to optimize its drug release profile. Pantoprazole sodium tablets were prepared by direct compression technique. Formulations contained Xanthan gum, PVP K30 and gas generating agent such as sodium bicarbonate and citric acid were taken as independent variables. The physical parameters of the tablets were characterized and were found within the limits. By comparing dissolution profiles of different formulations, the formulation F5 was considered as a better formulation. The drug release from all the formulations was found to follow zero order kinetics and Peppas modeling. The diffusion exponent of formulations was found (n

The purpose of the present study was to develop an optimized gastric floating once-daily matrix tablet of ofloxacin (FERMTs) using  hydrophilic polymers such as HPMC K4M, HPMC 100M, isapagulha husk and sodium bicarbonate as buoyancy contributer. The formulation of FERMTs were designed by 23full factorial design taking amount of HPMC K4M, HPMC 100M and sodium bicarbonate as formulation variables and prepared by wet granulation method. The FERMTs were then evaluated for hardness, friability, weight variation, content uniformity, in vitro drug release and floating capacity. Finally, the floating lag time (FLT) and cumulative % drug release at 4h, 8h, 12h and 16h were taken as response variables and the FERMT formulation was numerically optimized by 23full factorial design using Design-Expert software (version 8.1). The optimized formula showed excellent floating efficiency over a 16 h period with FLT of 2.80 mins and drug release over a period of 16 hour. Analysis of dissolution data showed that the kinetic of drug release followed Korsemeyer-peppas model.

The present study was carried out with an objective to formulate modified dosage form of Clopidogrel bisulfate. Clopidogrel bisulfate is available in the form of oral immediate release tablets. It is modified into both pharmaceutical aqueous injection and oral solid floating tablet formulations.  In-vitro and in- vivo evaluation of both the formulations were evaluated. The aqueous injection comprises solubilizer and aqueous solvent. Floating tablet were formulated in different ratio’s of natural based swelling polymer Swelstar MX-I. The floating tablets were based on effervescent approach using sodium bicarbonate as gas generating agent. The effect of polymers concentration on drug release profile was evaluated. The formulations containing sodium bicarbonate 34 mg per tablet provided desired buoyancy (floating lag time of about 2 minutes and total floating time of >24 hours). The in –vivo study on rabbits to see the effect of bleeding time, clotting time, platelet count and partial thromboplastin time were investigated. The results indicates that the bleeding time of clopidogrel floating tablets exhibited effect upto 12 hrs and the effect was maintained for 24 hours compared to reference product. The IV bolus solution showed maximum bleeding time in 1 hr and than decreased significantly as compared to normal control. No significant change in mean platelt count was observed. The clotting time of treated groups significantly increased in test formulation group as compared to normal group upto12 hours but regains to baseline in 24 hours.

  The purpose of the present study was to develop an optimized gastric floating extended release matrix tablet of Metformin hydrochloride (FERMTs) using a hydrophilic polymer, HPMC K4M, a hydrophobic polymer ethyl cellulose and sodium bicarbonate as buoyancy contributor. The formulation of FERMTs were designed by D-optimal mixture design taking % of HPMC K4M, ethyl cellulose and sodium bicarbonate as formulation variables and prepared by wet granulation method. The FERMTs were then evaluated for hardness, friability, weight variation, content uniformity, in vitro drug release and floating capacity. Finally, the floating lag time (FLT) and cumulative % drug release at 1h, 2h, 6h and 10h were taken as response variables and the FERMT formulation was numerically optimized by D-optimal mixture design using Design-Expert software (version 8.1). The optimized formula showed excellent floating efficiency over 10 h period with FLT of 9.61 mins. The release profile of optimized formula showed much closed similarity with that of USP reference dissolution profile (f2 value= 87.95). Analysis of dissolution data showed that the kinetic of drug release followed Korsemeyer-Peppas and Higuchi model.