Innovative Technologies for Gastro-Retentive Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract

Gastro-retentive drug delivery is most likely utilized by many pharmaceutical industries in view of its commercial success. Drugs that are primarily absorbed in the stomach, short half life and poorly soluble at alkaline pH are the most suitable candidate for the development of gastro- retentive drug delivery system. Traditional approaches have been followed to encourage gastric retention of an oral dosage form. However, over the past decades the pursuit and exploration of devices designed to be retained in the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract has advanced consistently in terms of technology and diversity. A number of major drug companies have focused efforts on the design of gastric retention technologies such as Oleotec, Soctec, Accordion Pill, GRID, Multiple Polymers Hydrophilic Matrix, Acuform, GIPET, GIRES, Micropump and Gastrodose. This review article highlights the recent commercially available gastro-retentive technologies in the field of GRDDS.