Ionically Gelled Polysaccharide-Based Floating Drug Delivery Systems

Polysaccharides from the natural sources are gaining increasing keen from researchers as components of stimuli responsive in drug delivery systems. Polysaccharides are intrinsically biocompatible because the similitude of their structure with many body components and readily degradable in environment by common microorganisms. Ionic polysaccharides can be readily cross-linked to provide hydrogel networks sensitive to a diverse of internal and external variables and thus suitable for switching drug release on-off through various mechanisms for floating drug delivery system inside the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, the application of polysaccharides gelled into floating drug delivery systems improves the drug bioavailability and patient compliance by increasing the gastric residence time and controlling the drug release. This chapter described the adaptation of drug delivery system by using ionically gelled polysaccharides-based floating drug delivery system inside the gastrointestinal tract.