PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF A GAS FORMATION-BASED MULTIPLE UNIT GASTRO RETENTIVE FLOATING DRUGDELIVERY SYSTEM OF FAMOTIDINE

P. Utteja*, B. Chandra Shekar Reddy

Gastro retentive Famotidine floating mini-tablets-in-capsule were prepared using three different natural polymers HPMC K4M, HPMC K15M and Guar gum in different ratios by direct compression method in order to achieve maximum local bioavailability. Buoyancy of mini-tablets was achieved for about 12 hours by an addition of optimized gas generating mixture consisting of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid to the formulations. The prepared mini-tablets were evaluated for various precompression parameters i.e., angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density, Carr’s index, Hausner’s ratio including Drug Excipients compatability studies by using FT-IR studies. The prepared formulations were evaluated for various post compression parameters like weight variation, thickness, friability, hardness, floating lag time, floating buoyancy studies and in-vitro dissolution studies. The In-vitro dissolution data confirmed the success of the optimized formula F5, which contains HPMC K15M, has shown desired percentage drug release in 12 hours. The release of drug from optimized formulation followed Fickian diffusion. FT-IR studies indicated that there is no positive evidence for the interaction between Famotidine and excipients of the optimized formula. Famotidine floating mini-tablets based on HPMC K15M is a promising formulation as an effective anti-ulcerative. The developed formulation overcome and alleviates the drawback and limitation of conventional dosage forms.