Advanced Solid Oral Controlled-Release Formulations

Abstract

Oral controlled release dosage forms have gained attention due to their numerous advantages that can overcome the limitations associated with conventional solid oral preparation to achieve the desired therapeutic efficacy. The pharmaceutical industry has extended patent lives through innovative repositioning and reformulation of existing drugs moieties. This has resulted in significant growth of the drug delivery market over the past few years. Advanced solid oral dosage forms belonging to the categories of gastro-retentive systems, pulsatile drug release, multiparticulate drug delivery systems, osmotic systems, colon-targeted systems, hydrodynamically balanced systems, and feedback-regulated drug delivery systems have been investigated extensively and have successfully hit the market. Patented technologies such as osmotic controlled-release oral delivery systems, liquid osmotic system, oral controlled absorption system, TIMERx, spheroidal oral drug absorption system, intestinal protective drug absorption system, and chronotherapeutic oral drug absorption system were also developed for targeting various parts of the gastrointestinal tract. This chapter discusses the factors influencing the fabrication of oral controlled formulations, mechanisms of drug release from oral controlled formulations, and their classification. With the upcoming automation in the pharma industry, ultra-long acting and 3D printing-based oral controlled preparation would be developed with better safety, efficacy, and lower cost, thereby benefitting the society at large.