FLOATING GASTRO-RETENTIVE DOSAGE FORMS – A NOVEL APPROACH FOR TARGETED AND CONTROLLED DRUG DELIVERY

Controlled (modified) release dosage forms are one of the key concepts in drug delivery, leading to enhanced drug bioavailability and increased patient’s compliance. However conventional modified release dosage forms encounter one big disadvantage- lack of site-specific drug delivery. Scientists developed different kinds of targeted oral controlled release forms. One of these are gastro-retentive systems- systems which can remain in the stomach region for prolonged period of time and thereby release the active compound in controlled fashion. Floating dosage forms are the most promising approach of all gastro-retentive systems. They are capable to float over the gastric content in longer time intervals. This article makes a review on floating dosage forms in general, different approaches for achieving floatation, advantages and disadvantages of this drug delivery concept. For better understanding the topic,an emphasis is made also on the anatomical and physiological features of the stomach and on the factors affecting gastric retention.