Prolonging Gastric Retention: An In-Depth Study of Gastro-Retentive Delivery Systems

Abstract: The Gastro-Retentive Drug Delivery System (GRDDS) is an innovative method de-signed to enhance oral drug delivery by delaying the time that medications remain in the stomach. GRDDS addresses the limitations of conventional oral DDS, such as rapid gastric emptying and the low bioavailability of some medications. By maintaining the medication in the stomach for prolonged periods, GRDDS enables improved therapeutic outcomes and sustained drug release. This document explores the physiology and anatomy of the stomach, factors influencing gastric retention, suitable drug candidates, and types of drug delivery systems, including floating, swell-ing, high-density systems, etc. The advancement of nanotechnology, combination polymers, and stimuli-responsive materials offers future perspectives for further enhancing the efficacy of GRDDS. The system has shown promise in treating diseases such as peptic ulcers, diabetes, and Helicobacter pylori infections, improving drug delivery to systemic as well as local sites. This re-view highlights that Gastro-Retentive Drug Delivery Systems (GRDDS) effectively improve drug absorption and enhance treatment outcomes. Integrating different strategies with emerging tech-nologies has the potential to further increase their effectiveness and provide greater benefits to pa-tients.