GASTRORETENTIVE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS: FROM CONCEPTION TO COMMERCIAL SUCCESS
Despite the extensive advancements in the field of drug delivery, the oral route remains the favorable route for administration of therapeutic actives. A success of oral controlled drug delivery systems is associated with reduced dosing frequency, decreased fluctuation in plasma drug concentration profile along with improved patient compliance. However, they are also associated with challenges like shorter gastric residence time, unpredictable gastric emptying and poor bioavailability for some molecules. This has initiated tremendous advancements in the field of gastro-retention to achieve controlled release of drugs along with improved bioavailability of drugs with narrow absorption window as well as localized action in the stomach and upper part of GIT. In present review, efforts have been envisaged to summarize our current understanding in the field of gastro-retention and their in vitro as well as in vivo characterization. Present review also highlights commercially utilized gastro-retentive technologies and some recently granted US patents in the field of GRDDS.