Abstract

OVERCOMING GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTACLES: GASTRORETENTIVE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS CONTRIBUTION TO IMPROVING ORAL DRUG DELIVERY

Sonam Singh and Kalpana Verma*

Abstract

The non-invasive nature, convenience of use, high patient compliance, and versatility in dosage form design of oral medication delivery make it the most popular method. Nevertheless, a number of physiological issues can seriously impair the bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness of many active pharmaceutical ingredients (api), including variable gastric emptying, fluctuating ph levels, limited absorption windows, enzymatic degradation, and transit variability in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). In order to get around these restrictions, gastroretentive drug delivery systems or GRDDS, have been created to improve site-specific drug absorption and extend the stomach residence duration, especially for medications absorbed in the upper GIT. The API may be released in a targeted and regulated manner because to the GRDDS's clever design, which keeps the dose form in the stomach for extended periods of time. These methods lessen systemic adverse effects, improve therapeutic results, decrease dose frequency, and control variations in plasma drug concentrations. Drugs having limited absorption windows, low solubility at increased pH, local gastric activity, or intestinal environment instability benefit most from these systems. The behavior of dose forms and gastrointestinal retention are greatly influenced by stomach physiology and gastric motility patterns, such as the Migrating Myoelectric Complex (MMC). Additionally influencing stomach residence duration are factors such as meal composition, calorie content, patient age, sex, and co-administered medicines. In order to maximize drug delivery efficacy, modern GRDDS technologies use biodegradable matrices, sophisticated polymers, and innovative design topologies. Notably, when administered by GRDDS, medications such as misoprostol, cyclosporine, ciprofloxacin, metformin, furosemide, and captopril have demonstrated enhanced bioavailability and therapeutic characteristics. Drug delivery has been further transformed by the incorporation of 3D printing and nanotechnology into gastroretentive systems, which allow for the creation of customized, site-specific, and programmable dosage forms.

Keywords: gastroretentive drug delivery systems; magnetic retention systems; active pharmaceutical ingredients; non-invasive; biodegradable matrices.