Question

What are the characteristics of floating or buoyant capsule systems?

(a) Release the drug along the entire length of GIT

(b) Granule drug with hydro gel

(c) Release only at a specific drug

(d) Use of high or low density pellets

The question was posed to me by my college professor while I was bunking the class.

This intriguing question originated from Biopharmaceuticals topic in section Biopharmaceuticals of Drug Biotechnology

Answer 1

The correct choice is (b) Granule drug with hydro gel

To explain: Floating of buoyant capsules are formulated by granulating a drug with 20-80% of hydrogel. On contact with the GI fluids these tablets swells and forms a diffusible gel that lowers the density of the system allowing it to float. Or a gas filled floatation chamber can be attached to a membrane coated tablet for making it buoyant.