Gastroretentive drug delivery technologies: Current approaches and future potential

Abstract

The success of controlled oral drug deliveries is associated with some physiological adversities like short gastric residence time and unpredictable gastric emptying time. Prolonged gastric residence increases duration of drug release, reduces drug waste, and improves drug solubility in gastric pH. This has triggered attention towards development of gastroretentive drug delivery technologies to deliver enarrow absorption windowi drugs with improved bioavailability. The present review addresses briefly about the current status of various leading gastroretentive drug delivery technologies, developed until now, i.e. high density (sinking), floating, bio- or mucoadhesive, expandable, unfoldable, super porous hydrogel, magnetic systems etc. In addition, important factors controlling gastroretention, advantages and finally, future potential are discussed.