ADVANCEMENTS IN CONTROLLED RELEASE GASTRORETENTIVE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: A REVIEW

Oral delivery of the drug is by far the most preferable route of drug delivery due to the ease of administration, patient compliance and flexibility in the formulations but has a drawback of non-site specificity and short gastric resident time. In order to overcome the drawbacks of conventional oral drug delivery systems, several technical advancements have led to the development of gastro retentive drug delivery system that could revolutionize method of medication and provide a number of therapeutic benefits. In order to understand various physiological difficulties to achieve gastric retention, we have summarized important factors controlling gastric retention. Afterwards, we have reviewed various gastroretentive approaches designed and developed until now, i.e. floating drug delivery system(FDDS), bio- or mucoadhesive system, expandable, unfoldable system, high density system, raft forming system, super porous hydrogel system and magnetic systems. Among these systems, FDDS have been most commonly used. Finally, advantages, disadvantages, evaluation, marketed preparation and future potential of gastro retentive drug delivery systems were covered.