Formulation and In-Vitro Evaluation of Floating Tablets for Gastric Retention

Animal-based testing is important for understanding the performance, mechanism, and translational capacities of floating tablets and in-vitro testing for stomach retention, which is the focus of the current review.  With a limited window for absorption in the upper gastrointestinal tract, drug delivery systems (FDDS) are designed to improve the residence time, bioavailability, and controlled release of medications.  The recipes that employed gas-producing agents like sodium bicarbonate and citric acid, as well as hydrophilic polymers like HPMC, carbopol, and sodium alginate, demonstrated exceptional floating properties with a lag time of less than 12 hours. In vitro research studies showed sustained release profiles along the zero-order or non-Fickian kinetics, whereas in vivo testing in albino rats and rabbits showed long gastric retention and better pharmacokinetic results. Gastric safety and biocompatibility was confirmed by histopathological assessments. Direct compression was determined to have the best formulation through comparative analysis based on stable and efficient formulations compared to wet granulation. All in all, animal tests will be a critical preclinical base to determine optimal proportions of polymers, buoyancy, and release characteristics which will make floating pills safe and effective when applied to the clinical setting.