Natural Polymers In The Development Of Gastroretentive Systems: A Review

Abstract

The current review is prepared with the prime intention of presenting potential natural polymers used in gastroretentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS), as well as their features, current research, future development trends, and applications in gastroretentive systems. Natural polymers currently are used in numerous industrial applications such as medicine, agriculture, and other disciplines are rising rapidly. The use of natural excipients in the pharmaceutical field has been seen to increase as they are safe, nontoxic, biodegradable, biocompatible, ecofriendly etc. Again these polymers tend to excrete very easily from the body without altering the normal physiological mechanisms. Various natural polymers are used to enable drug delivery systems remain further as drug carriers, to attain the objective of boosting therapeutic efficacy and bioavailability. Natural gastroretentive excipients are very useful for drugs having narrow therapeutic index like itopride, carvedilol and glipizide to ameliorate their residence in stomach for maximum duration of time. Long time residence of drug in stomach enhances its dissolution, absorption and ultimately the bioavailability. Natural polymers are provides gastric retention through various mechanisms like low density approach, high density approach, mucoadhesive system, swellable system etc. Natural polymers' physical properties aid in their long-term swelling and mucoadhesive properties. As a result, natural polymers, like synthetic or semi-synthetic polymers, are potential sources of GRDDS.