Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Self-Nanoemulsification of Healthy Oils to Enhance the Solubility of Lipophilic Drugs
Published on: July 27, 2022
Overview on gastroretentive drug delivery systems for improving drug bioavailability
Carla M Lopes1, Catarina Bettencourt1, Alessandra Rossi2
1Fernando Pessoa Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit/Biomedical Research Center (FP-ENAS/CEBIMED), Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296 P-4200-150 Porto, Portugal.
Abstract:
In recent decades, many efforts have been made in order to improve drug bioavailability after oral administration. Gastroretentive drug delivery systems are a good example; they emerged to enhance the bioavailability and effectiveness of drugs with a narrow absorption window in the upper gastrointestinal tract and/or to promote local activity in the stomach and duodenum. Several strategies are used to increase the gastric residence time, namely bioadhesive or mucoadhesive systems, expandable systems, high-density systems, floating systems, superporous hydrogels and magnetic systems. The present review highlights some of the drugs that can benefit from gastroretentive strategies, such as the factors that influence gastric retention time and the mechanism of action of gastroretentive systems, as well as their classification into single and multiple unit systems.
Related Concept Videos
Bioavailability Enhancement: Drug Stability Enhancement and GI Retention
Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Continuous-Release Systems
Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Delayed-Release Systems
Bioavailability Enhancement: Drug Permeability Enhancement
Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Introduction
Drug Delivery Systems: Different Types

