Floating Bilayer Tablets: An Unique Approach for Gastroretension

A bilayer and floating drug delivery system exhibiting a unique combination of floatation and bilayer to prolong residence in the stomach Bilayer tablet is new era for the successful development of controlled release formulation along with various features to provide a way of successful drug delivery system. Controlled release (CR) dosage forms have been extensively used to improve therapy with several important drugs. Incorporation of the drug in a controlled release gastro-retentive dosage forms (CR-GRDF) which can remain in the gastric region for several hours would significantly prolong the gastric residence time of drugs and improve bioavailability, reduce drug waste, and enhance the solubility of drugs that are less soluble in high pH environment. Several approaches are currently utilized in the prolongation of the GRT, including floating drug delivery systems (FDDS), swelling and expanding systems, polymeric bioadhesive systems, high-density systems, modified-shape systems and other delayed gastric emptying devices. Bi-layer tablet is suitable for sequential release of two drugs in combination, separate two incompatible substances and also for sustained release tablet in which one layer is immediate release as initial dose and second layer is maintenance dose. An attempt has been made in this review article to introduce the society to the current technological developments in bilayer and floating drug delivery system.