International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology
Volume 15, Issue 2

Strategic Formulation of an In-Situ Floating Raft System for Improved Hypertensive Therapy via Gastric Retention

Neha Raghuwanshi*, Vipul Patel 

School of Pharmacy, RK University, Rajkot 360020, Gujarat, India

Received: 17th Feb, 2025; Revised: 28th Mar, 2025; Accepted: 5th May, 2025; Available Online: 25th Jun, 2025

ABSTRACT

Hypertension continues to be a major global health concern, requiring long-term therapy and consistent patient adherence. Metoprolol Succinate (MS), a β1-selective adrenergic blocker, is widely used for hypertension management. Despite its clinical efficacy, challenges such as a short half-life and variable absorption from the gastrointestinal tract often necessitate frequent dosing, which may affect patient compliance. In-Situ raft-forming systems have emerged as promising gastroretentive drug delivery platforms, offering potential for sustained drug release and prolonged gastric retention—especially advantageous for drugs like MS, which are primarily absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This study explores the formulation of an In-Situ raft-forming gastroretentive gel for MS using a systematic design approach. Natural polymers such as sodium alginate and isapgol were utilized for their ion-activated gel-forming and swelling properties, which enable the formation of a floating, cohesive gel matrix upon contact with gastric fluid. A 3² factorial design was applied to optimize formulation parameters influencing buoyancy, gel strength, and release characteristics. The developed system aims to maintain gastric residence and provide sustained release of MS on raft-forming drug delivery technologies. This approach offers a formulation-based strategy to potentially reduce dosing frequency and improve therapeutic consistency for antihypertensive treatment.

Keywords: Gastroretentive drug delivery, In-Situ gel, Metoprolol Succinate, Raft-forming system, Factorial design, Sustained release

How to cite this article: Neha Raghuwanshi, Vipul Patel. Strategic Formulation of an In-Situ Floating Raft System for Improved Hypertensive Therapy via Gastric Retention. International Journal of Drug Delivery Technology. 2025;15(2): 770-77. doi:10.25258/ijddt.15.2.51

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