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Floating microspheres as drug delivery system: newer approaches
Sunil K Jain1, Govind P Agrawal, Narendra K Jain
1SLT Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur (C.G.) 495 009, India. suniljain25in@yahoo.com
Current Drug Delivery
|August 5, 2008
Summary
Floating drug delivery systems (FDDSs) enhance drug bioavailability by prolonging stomach residence time. This review explores methods for preparing and improving floating microspheres for controlled drug release.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Biopharmaceutics
Background:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) transit time variability and non-uniform drug absorption limit oral drug efficacy.
- Prolonged gastric residence time is crucial for drugs absorbed in the upper small intestine.
- Floating drug delivery systems (FDDSs) offer a solution by maintaining buoyancy in gastric contents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review approaches for preparing floating microspheres.
- To discuss methods for enhancing the performance of FDDSs.
- To highlight the advantages of floating microspheres for controlled drug release.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on floating microsphere preparation techniques.
- Analysis of strategies to improve the gastric retention and drug release profiles of FDDSs.
- Discussion of various buoyant dosage forms, focusing on microspheres.
Main Results:
- Floating microspheres offer uniform distribution in gastric fluid, avoiding gastric emptying variability.
- These systems prolong drug release, enhancing drug bioavailability.
- Multiparticulate low-density particles effectively increase gastric retention time.
Conclusions:
- FDDSs, particularly floating microspheres, are promising for controlled drug delivery.
- Optimized preparation and formulation are key to overcoming limitations of FDDSs.
- Floating microspheres provide a viable strategy for improving drug absorption and therapeutic outcomes.
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