Abstract

Over several centuries, oral dosage forms have remained incomparably superior to alternative medication delivery methods. For its ease of formulation and administration, its stability, and its excellent rate of patient compliance, the oral route is preferred. Gastric emptying has been a major drawback for drugs that stay for a very short period in the stomach. An innovative method of gastro-intestinal retention allows the dosage form to stay in the gastrointestinal region for a longer period and maximize drug release. Gastro retentive drug delivery system is applied for enhancing bioavailability, local action in the gastric region, maintaining steady drug concentrations and minimising the dosage regimen. This review discusses the approaches used in gastro retentive drug delivery system, which include floating, high density, muco-adhesive, magnetic and various other systems. Floating systems are the most widely used approach under gastro retentive drug delivery system. These are extensively used because of their simplicity. Drug content, hardness, particle size analysis, weight variation and friability are some of the conventional tests for any dosage form. Along with these, buoyancy studies, dissolution studies, and swelling index are also carried out. Techniques like magnetic resonance imaging are widely used in in vivo evaluation. Yet, evaluating entire in vivo efficacy in the case of small animals is a significant drawback. Gastro retentive drug delivery system is regarded as a formulative strategy to improve the activity and bioavailability of the active pharmaceutical ingredient based on its benefits and applications. It is anticipated that numerous more studies will uncover Gastro retentive drug delivery system's full potential.