Formulation and Evaluation of Ibuprofen-Loaded Floating Micro-balloons for Enhanced Gastroretentive Drug Delivery

The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate ibuprofen-loaded floating micro-balloons for enhanced gastroretentive drug delivery. Ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with a short half-life and upper gastrointestinal absorption window, was selected as a suitable candidate for developing a floating drug delivery system. Floating micro-balloons were prepared using the solvent evaporation (emulsion diffusion) technique with polymers such as ethyl cellulose and Eudragit RS100. The prepared formulations were evaluated for particle size, percentage yield, drug entrapment efficiency, in-vitro buoyancy, surface morphology, and drug release behavior. The results indicated that polymer concentration significantly influenced formulation characteristics. The optimized formulation (F6) exhibited high entrapment efficiency (~83.5%), excellent buoyancy (~88.9%), and sustained drug release up to 12 hours. In-vitro release studies demonstrated a controlled release pattern, and kinetic modeling revealed that drug release followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model, indicating a non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. The developed floating micro-balloons showed excellent gastroretentive properties, prolonged gastric residence time, and improved drug release profile compared to conventional dosage forms. Thus, this system represents a promising approach for enhancing the oral bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of ibuprofen. Further in vivo studies are required to confirm its clinical performance.

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