3D printed gastroretentive floating-hollow capsular device (GRF-HCD) for levofloxacin oral delivery using selective laser sintering (SLS) platform technology

The development of gastroretentive drug delivery systems is one such instance, which was developed to improve the oral bioavailability and effectiveness of drugs, which has a poor absorption window in the upper GIT and/or triggers local activity such as duodenal and stomach activity. In this work, the objective of sintering gastroretentive dosage forms was to sustain the release of levofloxacin in the gastric region for an extended period of time. Selective laser sintering (SLS)-mediated powder bed fusion 3D printing technology was utilized to design and fabricate a modified-release gastroretentive floating-hollow capsular device (GRF-HCD) in three distinct capsule sizes namely, 000, 00, and 0 with the aid of pharmaceutical grade polymers (combinations of Kolliphor P188 and Kollidon SR in 1:1 ratio). Sintered GRF-HCD was further subjected to morphological analysis, weight variation, and swelling index. In addition, <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> buoyancy studies were performed in an animal model using X-ray imaging. Finally, the <i>in vitro</i> drug release from GRF-HCD was performed in simulated gastric pH condition (pH-1.2) upto 12 h. Levofloxacin concentration was then quantified using validated RP-HPLC method. The <i>in vitro</i> floating behaviour was mimicked with the <i>in vivo</i> floating, where the GRF-HCD was retained in the rabbit stomach for an extended period which will help to sustain the drug release for a longer period and maintained the maximum concentration of levofloxacin in the gastric region.