A NOVEL APPROACH IN GASTRO RETENTIVE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: FLOATING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

The task of achieving efficient delivery of drugs that have poor bioavailability or narrow absorption windows have plagued the pharmaceutically industry for decades. Thus, much research has been dedicated to the development of novel polymeric-based gastro retentive drug delivery technologies that may optimize the bioavailability and subsequent therapeutic efficacy of such drugs. Several technical approaches are currently utilized in the prolongation of gastric residence time, including high-density, swelling and expanding, polymeric mucoadhesive, ion-exchange, raft forming, magnetic and floating drug delivery systems, as well as other delayed gastric emptying devices. The purpose of writing this review on gastro retentive drug delivery systems was to compile the recent literature with special focus on various gastro retentive approaches that have recently become leading methodologies in the field of site-specific orally administered controlled release drug delivery. In this review, the current technological developments of FDDS and marketed products have been discussed. In addition, the pharmaceutical basis of their design, their advantages and future potential for oral controlled drug delivery are discussed.