Abstract

A REVIEW: FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF FLOATING MICROSPHERES

Chaurasia Sadhana*, Khan Rizwana and Niranjan S. K.

ABSTRACT

The development of an oral controlled – release drug delivery system is to prolong the presence of the dosage form. In the recent years, scientific and technological advancement have been made in the research and development of novel drug delivery system. The gastric residence time of the dosage form can be improved by formulating them as floating drug delivery system and various gastroretentive dosage form are available, including tablets, capsules, pills, laminated films, floating microspheres, granules and powders. Floating microspheres have been gaining importance due to the uniform distribution of these multiple - unit dosage form in the stomach, which results in more reproducible drug absorption and reduced risk of local irritation. Such systems have more advantages over the single - unit dosage forms. Several approaches such as floating drug delivery systems (FDDS), swelling and expanding systems, bioadhesive systems, modified shape systems, high density systems or other delayed gastric emptying devices have been discovered till now. Floating microspheres enhances drug bioavilability; reduce drug excretion and controls drug delivery and provide better patient compliance. Floating microspheres are spherical free flowing powders in the size range of 1- 1000 μm without core. It is prepared using proteins or synthetic polymers. This review article summarizes the current pharmaceutical basis of their design, method of preparation, classification, advantages, disadvantages, evaluation method, factors affecting their formulation, and in vivo parameters etc.

Keywords: Floating, bioavailability, gastroretention, microspheres, polymer.