FLOATING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM IN METFORMIN HCl AS MICROBALLOONS

Metformin HCl is a common medication for treating diabetes.However, it has problems like low bioavailability and a short half-life due to rapid gastric emptying.To address these issues, researchers have developed a floating drug delivery system (FDDS) in the form of microballoons.This system aims to extend the time the drug stays in the stomach and improve absorption.This review looks at how floating microballoons can enhance the oral delivery of metformin HCl by addressing its short half-life of 1.5-4 hours, limited absorption time, and gastrointestinal side effects.The goal is to achieve better bioavailability and improve patient adherence in managing type 2 diabetes.The research focuses on floating drug delivery systems (FDDS) with a special focus on hollow microballoons made using emulsion solvent evaporation (such as ethyl cellulose + NaHCO) and double emulsion methods (like Eudragit + CaCO).Key factors include in vitro assessments, such as particle size, buoyancy, and drug release kinetics.In vivo studies have used -scintigraphy and pharmacokinetic studies in animal models.The best microballoons had an average size of 215 42 m, a density of 0.89 g/cm, and buoyancy of 92.4% for over 12 hours.The sustained release profile showed 72.3% drug release at 8 hours, compared to 100% at 4 hours for standard tablets.In vivo analysis found that gastric retention lasted 8-12 hours in rabbits, bioavailability increased by 1.5-2 times, and glycemic control was stable in diabetic rats.Floating microballoons significantly improve the effectiveness of metformin by extending gastric retention, boosting bioavailability, and reducing how often patients need to take the drug.However, challenges like scaling up production and meeting regulatory requirements remain.Despite this, progress in polymer technology and formulation strategies offers hope for future clinical use.