DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF FLOATING TABLETS OF FAMOTIDINE BY USING NATURAL POLYMERS

The aim of present research work is to prepare and evaluate controlled release floating tablet of Famotidine in view to enhance bioavailability and to reduce the dosing frequency. The tablets were prepared by using wet granulation technique employing PVP K 30 as binder and isopropyl alcohol as granulating fluid. The granules were evaluated for flow properties. All the formulations showed values within the prescribed limits for tests like hardness, friability and weight variation which indicate that the prepared tablets are of standard quality. All the tablets were formulated using sodium bicarbonate as effervescent agent. All the prepared formulations floated immediately after placing into the beaker and the floating was maintained more than 14 hrs. It was observed that the carbon dioxide generated from sodium bicarbonate in presence of dissolution medium(0.1N HCL) was trapped in the polymer gel matrix formed by the hydration of polymer which decreases the density(<1) and makes the tablet buoyant. The correlation coefficient values (r) revealed that the dissolution profiles followed Zero order kinetics and the mechanism of drug release was governed by Peppas model. The n values are found to be more than 0.5 (n>0.5) indicted that the drug release was predominantly controlled by non fickian diffusion. Based on the release rate constant and % of drug release the formulations prepared with Aeglemarmelos gum shown prolonged retarding nature compared with the formulations prepared with Tamarind kernel Powder mucilage. Among all the formulations, F6 formulation containing drug and Aeglemarmelos gum in 1:1.5 ratio was found to be optimized formulations. Key words: Famotidine, Aeglemarmelos gum, Tamarind kernel Powder mucilage, Sodium bicarbonate