Abstract

FLOATING TABLETS: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Kailash Kumar Sirvi*, Dr. Amul Mishra

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Abstract

Oral drug delivery remains the most preferred route of administration owing to its convenience, cost-effectiveness, and high patient compliance. However, conventional oral dosage forms often suffer from limitations such as variable gastric emptying, poor bioavailability of drugs absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract, and the inability to provide sustained therapeutic levels. To address these challenges, gastro-retentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) have been developed to prolong gastric residence time, thereby improving drug absorption and therapeutic efficacy. Among the various GRDDS approaches, floating tablets have gained considerable attention due to their ability to remain buoyant on gastric fluids for extended periods without affecting gastric emptying. Floating tablets offer several advantages, including improved bioavailability of drugs with narrow absorption windows, enhanced solubility of drugs in acidic pH, and controlled drug release. This review provides a comprehensive overview of floating tablets, including the principles of gastro-retention, mechanisms of buoyancy, classification, formulation strategies, and evaluation parameters. Particular emphasis is placed on effervescent and noneffervescent floating systems, polymer selection, role of excipients, and technological approaches for formulation. The article also discusses the factors influencing the performance of floating tablets, in vitro and in vivo evaluation techniques, and the therapeutic applications of these systems in the management of gastric disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and infections caused by Helicobacter pylori. Furthermore, recent advances such as Quality by Design (QbD), nanotechnology, and 3D printing in floating drug delivery are highlighted. The review concludes with future perspectives emphasizing the clinical potential of floating tablets as an effective gastro-retentive strategy for enhancing therapeutic outcomes.

Keywords: Floating drug delivery system; Gastro-retentive tablets; Buoyancy; Effervescent systems; Controlled release; Gastric retention.