Floating Tablets for Helicobacter Pylori Induced Peptic Ulcer Therapy: A Research Review on Formulation Studies, In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation

Abstract

The purpose of writing this review on floating drug delivery system (FDDS) is to compile the recent research literature with focus on the gastro retentive tablet dosage forms. FDDS are of particular interest to deliver drugs that are locally active and have narrow absorption window in stomach or upper small intestine, unstable in the intestinal or colonic environment, and exhibit low solubility at high pH values. In this review, current and recent developments of Stomach Specific FDDS are discussed. The recent developments of FDDS such as physiological and formulation variables affecting gastric retention, approaches to design single-unit floating systems and their formulation aspects are covered in detail. This review also summarizes the in vitro techniques, in vivo studies to evaluate the performance and application of floating systems, and applications of these systems. The pharmacokinetic evaluation aspects, roentgen graphic and Scintigraphy techniques were also discussed for evaluating efficacy of FDDS. The increasing technology of drug delivery will ensure the development of increase number of gastro retentive drug delivery to optimize the delivery of molecules that exhibit regional variability in drug absorption, low bioavailability and first pass metabolism. The research in this area is ongoing and it will not be long before improved systems could be developed.

KEYWORDS: Floating drug delivery system, Gastric residence time, Pharmacokinetics, Scintigraphy studies