Pharmacophore an International Research Journal
The purpose of writing this review on gastroretention was to compile the recent literature on the development of gastroretentive drug delivery system (GRDDS). Prolonged gastric retention can be achieved by using floating, bio/mucoadhesive, swelling or high-density systems. GRDDS extend significantly the period of time over which the drugs may be released to most efficient site of absorption. By prolonging the gastric residence time of dosage forms, it is possible to target the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), mainly the stomach and the small intestine. This is of great importance for drugs for which absorption is limited to certain sites along the GIT or having local action in the certain sites of GIT. Thus these systems not only prolong dosing interval but also increase patient compliance beyond the level of existing controlled release dosage forms.
