Development and In Vitro Evaluation of Oral Floating Matrix Tablet Formulation of Ranitidine Hydrochloride

Recently many drugs are formulated as floating drug delivery systems with an objective to sustain the release of drug in stomach. Ranitidine hydrochloride, which is better absorbed in stomach and whose site of action is gastric area was formulated as floating matrix tablet using gas generating agent (sodium bicarbonate, citric acid) and polymers like HPMC K4M and polaxomer. Formulation was optimized on the basis of in vitro release. All other parameters like physical parameters like thickness and hardness were within range. In vitro buoyancy was found to be in the range of 17 to 89 seconds and water uptake in the range of 125 to 280%. Floating time was more than 24 hrs. In vitro drug release of the optimized batch was found to be 88% at the end of 8^th hr. Hence, it is evident from this investigation that this gas powered floating matrix tablet could be promising delivery system of Ranitidine hydrochloride with sustained release action and improved drug availability at target area.