Formulation and in Vitro evaluation of hydrodynamically balanced matrix tablets of famotidine using pectin as controlled release polymer

This study was conducted to formulate and evaluate floating gastroretentive matrix tablets of famotidine using pectin as swelling agent. The main aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the matrix tablets made up of different drug:pectin proportions at 1:0.5 (FP20), 1:1 (FP40), 1:1.5 (FP60), 1:2 (FP80) and 1:2.5 (FP100) ratios in five different formulations. Constant proportion of sodium bicarbonate was used as a gas generating agent whereas pectin was used as swelling agent. Results revealed that the lower proportion of pectin was insufficient to form a strong matrix around the tablet but at higher concentration of pectin buoyancy was achieved within < 30 s and drug release was successfully sustained up to 10 h. Out of the five formulations, FP60 was selected as the best formulation, it displayed short floating lag time and long total floating period (> 10 h) and was able to sustain drug release up to 10 h.