Floating Drug Delivery Systems with Xanthan Gum, Eudragit-RS PO or Lubritose SD: Nizatidine and Piracetam as Model Drugs

Aims of the study were to prepare and investigate the dissolution and floatability profiles of Nizatidine and Piracetam effervescent floating tablets and to study the effect of Xanthan Gum, Eudragit-RS PO or Lubritose SD on tablet compression properties with or without granulation of the powder admixtures. Sodium bicarbonate was used to release CO₂ when tablets come in contact with the acidic medium. Tablets without drugs were characterised for their floatability properties in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) without enzymes at 37°C. The successful formulations regarding floatability were incorporated with Nizatidine (50mg/tablet) or Piracetam (30mg/tablet). The powder admixtures were characterised for flow properties and tablets containing drugs were evaluated via British Pharmacopeia quality control tests.

All batches with Nizatidine that contain Xanthan Gum alone or in combination with Eudragit-RS PO showed good flow and compaction properties and also yielded significant (p<0.05) swelling and floating results. However, Piracetam batches prepared with Lubritose SD showed poor compaction, therefore granulation of the powders was applied to enhance floating tablet properties such as friability, floatability and ustainability of the drug release for more than 6 hours.

In conclusion, Xanthan Gum and Eudragit-RS PO (used with Nizatidine) and Lubritose SD (applied with Piracetam) could be promising excipients to formulate floating tablets.