FLOATING ORAL IN-SITU GEL A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH FOR GASTRORETENTIVE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: AN OVERVIEW

Vaishnavi J. Patil*, Sulbha G. Patil, Amruta M. Patil, Puja C. Patil,  ishant M. Patel and Jayesh A. Patil

ABSTRACT

The drugs having a confined absorption window in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) when administered by oral route are often limited by poor bioavailability due to insufficient drug release and short residence time at the site of absorption. Liquid orals are more susceptible to low bioavailability because they are removed rapidly from the stomach since they are subjected to faster transit from the stomach/ duodenum. The issues of immediate release and short gastrointestinal residence of liquids are removed by formulating as oral in situ gels as they provide the best means to overcome these problems. The in situ gel dosage form is a liquid before administration and after it comes in contact with gastric contents due to one or more mechanisms gets converted to gel which floats on gastric contents. This accomplishes greater residence as well as sustained release. This approach is useful for both systemic and local effects of drugs administered. This review gives a brief idea about floating oral in-situ gel their merits and demerits, mechanism, applications, approaches and various factors affecting floating drug delivery system.

Keywords: Floating gel, Gastric retention, Bioavailability, In-situ gel.