Formulation and Evaluation of Gastroretentive Bilayered Floating Films of Famotidine: Effect of Formulation variables and in Vitro in Vivo Evaluation

The study was aimed at the formulation and evaluation of gastroretentive bilayer floating films of famotidine. A bilayer film consisting of an Immediate Release Layer (IR) and a Sustained Release Layer (SR) were prepared by solvent casting technique. The prepared films were evaluated for film thickness, percentage swelling, folding endurance, tensile strength, drug content estimation and in vitro dissolution studies. Compatibility studies using FTIR were also done for the detection of possible interaction between drug, polymer and other additives. Optimized bilayered floating films were reformulated by including barium sulphate instead of the active drug, famotidine and subjected to in vivo radiographic studies in New Zealand white rabbits in order to confirm the gastric retention.