SUPER POROUS HYDROGEL: A PROMISING GASTRORETENTIVE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

Abstract

Super porous hydrogels (SPHs) are recent advancement in gastro retentive drug delivery system (GRDDS) which also includes intragastric floating system (low density system), mucoadhesive system, high density system and swellable system. These systems should instantly swell in the stomach and maintain their integrity in the harsh stomach environment, while releasing the pharmaceutical active ingredient. SPHs could accommodate a large amount of water within short period through interconnected capillary channels. The poor mechanical strength of SPHs has been overcome by developing the second-generation SPH composites (SPHCs) and the third-generation SPH hybrids (SPHHs), super porous hydrogel interpenetrating network (SPHs-IPN). This review discusses the formulation, various generations, methods of preparation, techniques of drug loading, method for synthesis of superporous hydrogels, list of various reagent used techniques for synthesizing SPHs-IPN and characterization. Abbreviations SPH Superporous hydrogel SPHCs Superporous hydrogel composites SPHHs Superporous hydrogel hybrids IPN Interpenetrating network GIT gastrointestinal tract SEM Scanning electron microscope DDS Drug delivery system PEG Polyethyleneglycol