Development and Evaluation of Novel Floating Drug Delivery Systems of Metoclopramide Hydrochloride

Abstract

Several distinct novel drug delivery systems are being employed for effective delivery of medications to patients. Oral delivery is by far the most preferable route of drug delivery and oral sustained-release gastroretentive drug delivery systems offer several advantages. These drug delivery systems are beneficial for drugs with absorption from the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract and for those acting locally in the stomach, improving the bioavailability of these drugs. Floating drug delivery systems (FDDS) are one of the gastroretentive drug delivery systems used to achieve prolonged gastric residence time. Multiple unit FDDS avoid the “all-or-none” gastric emptying nature of single unit systems. In the present research study, floating formulation as solid (capsule) or liquid (in situ gel) drug delivery systems were developed for improving the gastric residence time of the anti-emetic agent metoclopramide hydrochloride. Floating capsules were prepared using combinations of various natural and synthetic polymers. Simultaneously, in situ gel was prepared using completely bio-degradable natural polymers. Both systems were able to sustain drug release for up to 8 hours. These formulations were compared with marketed forms and found to be more convenient from a patient as well as a biopharmaceutical standpoint. To assess the stability of these formulations, accelerated stability testing was conducted as per ICH guidelines. Both formulations were found to be stable upon completion of the accelerated stability period.