Gastroretentive Dosage Forms: Floating Tablets

Historically, oral drug administration has been the predominant route for drug delivery. Over the past three decades, the pursuit and exploration of devices designed to be retained in the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract has advanced consistently in terms of technology and diversity, encompassing a variety of systems and devices such as floating systems, raft systems, expanding systems, swelling systems, bioadhesive systems and low-density systems. Gastric retention will provide advantages such as the delivery of drugs with narrow absorption windows in the small intestinal region. Also, longer residence time in the stomach could be advantageous for local action in the upper part of the small intestine, for example treatment of peptic ulcer disease. Furthermore, improved bioavailability is expected for drugs that are absorbed readily upon release in the GI tract. These drugs can be delivered ideally by slow release from the stomach. Many drugs categorised as once-a-day delivery have been demonstrated to have suboptimal absorption due to dependence on the transit time of the dosage form, These drugs can be delivered ideally by slow release from the stomach.