Recent advancements in mucoadhesive floating drug delivery systems: A mini-review

Over the past few decades, extensive research has been carried out to develop a gastroretentive dosage form (GRDF). This type of dosage form can improve the delivery and performance of drugs that are locally active in the stomach because the GRDF allows the drug to remain in the stomach for a sufficient time interval. Different approaches have been used to develop efficient GRDFs such as low density systems, high density systems, swelling and expanding systems, super-porous hydrogels, hydrodynamically balanced systems, gas generating systems, raft forming systems, floating systems, and ion exchange resins. However, these kinds of systems possess both advantages and disadvantages. Intra-individual and inter-individual differences in gastric physiology are obstacles in the development of efficient GRDFs. Examples of these individual differences include gastric pH and gastric motility, which have a significant impact on gastric retention time and drug delivery. Some of these obstacles can be overcome by developing a novel mucoadhesive floating drug delivery system (MFDDS). The MFDDS is characterized by intimate contact of the mucoadhesive dosage form with the mucosal layer, thereby increasing the localized absorption of the drug. The present mini-review provides valuable information and highlights the advancement of the MFDDS. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.