FORMULATION OF GASTRORETENTIVE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM (FLOATING TABLETS) OF NIFEDIPINE

Among novel drug delivery systems, rate controlled oral drug delivery system forms an important area. Recent technological and scientific research has been devoted to the development of rate controlled drug delivery systems to overcome physiological adversities such as short gastric residence times and unpredictable gastric emptying times. 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. Floating Drug delivery system are designed to prolong the gastric residence time after oral administration, and controlling the release of drug especially useful for achieving controlled plasma level as well as improving bioavailability. Floating drug delivery systems are the systems which are retained in the stomach for a longer period of time. The main aim of the study was to design and evaluate nifedipine floating tablets. Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC K100M) was used as a polymer. This study proves that GFDDS of nifedipine can be designed using HPMC K100M as matrix polymer, which provides nearly zero order release kinetics and thus possible enhancement of oral bioavailability of the drug.