Formulation and Evaluation of Floating Oral i...

Formulation and Evaluation of Floating Oral in situ Gel of Metronidazole

Author Name : Ramkesh Patel, Swati Saxena, Sarang Jain

ABSTRACT

The drugs which have poor bioavailability and short gastrointestinal residence time cannot be formulated as conventional dosage form. The drugs which have narrow absorption window in gastrointestinal tract, when formulated as tablet do not release drug properly at the site of action. They do not properly show adequate pharmacological action at the time of requirement of body. As a result frequency of dose increases and patient compliance decreases. In order to achieve prolong residence time of poorly soluble drug in gastrointestinal tract controlled and sustained drug delivery system are formulated. Various approaches for gastro retentive drug delivery have been used like floating system, in situ gel, mucoadhesive drug delivery, swellable and expandible systems etc. The objective of the present study is to develop a metronidazole floating in-situ gel that remains in the stomach, resulting in an increased gastric residence time and thus increases local concentration of the drug for complete eradication of H. pylori.

In an attempt to prolong gastric residence time of metronidazole and therefore to improve its local effects in the stomach and achieve better eradication of H. pylori, certain floating systems were developed, including floating metronidazole.

The prepared floating in situ gel of metronidazole has the feasibility of sustaining the drug release while remaining in the stomach. It appears to be promising as a stomach specific delivery system of metronidazole for better treatment of peptic ulcer disease caused by H. Pylori.

Keywords:  Floating drug delivery, sustained action, In-situ gel, Metronidazole, Gelation.