Natural Polymers in Floating Drug Delivery System: Exploring the Efficacy of Okra Gum in Floating Drug Delivery System

The advancement of pharmaceutical sciences has continuously focused on improving therapeutic efficacy, patient compliance, and bioavailability of drugs through the development of innovative drug delivery systems. Among the various novel approaches developed over the years, the Gastro-Retentive Drug Delivery System (GRDDS) has emerged as one of the most significant milestones in the field of Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS). These systems are specifically designed to prolong the residence time of dosage forms in the stomach, thereby improving the absorption and therapeutic performance of drugs that exhibit a narrow absorption window, poor stability in intestinal pH, or require localized action in the stomach. Conventional oral drug delivery systems often fail to maintain consistent therapeutic drug concentrations because of rapid gastric emptying and unpredictable gastrointestinal transit time. As a result, many drugs are unable to achieve optimal bioavailability. Gastro-retentive systems overcome these limitations by retaining the dosage form in the stomach for an extended period of time, thus enabling sustained and controlled release of the active pharmaceutical ingredient. Floating Drug Delivery Systems (FDDS), one of the most extensively explored gastro-retentive approaches, have gained immense importance due to their simplicity, effectiveness, and patient-friendly design. Floating dosage forms are characterized by a lower density than gastric fluids, allowing them to remain buoyant in the stomach for prolonged durations without affecting gastric emptying rate. Once administered, these systems float on the gastric contents and gradually release the drug at a predetermined rate. This prolonged gastric retention enhances drug absorption and reduces dosing frequency, thereby improving patient adherence to therapy. Floating systems are particularly beneficial for drugs that are primarily absorbed in the stomach or upper part of the small intestine. The success of floating drug delivery systems largely depends on the choice of polymeric materials used in the formulation. Polymers play a crucial role in controlling drug release, maintaining matrix integrity.