Development and Evaluation of Floating and Expanding Gastroretentive Film of Furosemide

Objectives: Furosemide is BCS class IV drug which shows pH dependent solubility and permeability. It is very poorly soluble in stomach medium (0.006 mg/mL) and having high permeability through stomach, but its solubility increases with pH but it is impermeable through intestine due to its permeation limitation. The objective of this study is to develop integrated floating film of Furosemide to enhance its solubility by increasing gastric residence, by changing pH so that insoluble furosemide get dissolved, convert from crystalline form to amorphous form so ultimately enhance its bioavailability. Methods: Drug loaded polymeric film prepared by solvent casting method using different polymers such as gelatin and carboxy methyl cellulose sodium (sodium CMC), sodium alginate and glycerin as plasticizer, sodium hydroxide as solubility enhancer. The prepared floating films were evaluated for physicochemical parameters such as thickness, weight variation, floating properties, drug content, stability study and in vitro drug release. The drug- polymer interaction was studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform Infrared (FT-IR). Results: The result of in vitro drug buoyancy and drug release study showed that the floating films were found to be floated up to maximum period of 18.58 ± 2 hr and maximum 86.78±0.86 % drug release up to 12 hr. Conclusion: Floating Film enhance the bioavailability of Furosemide by prolonging its duration in the stomach via the floating dosage forms and also enhance its solubility by using hydrophilic polymers and sodium hydroxide as solubility enhancer.