Formulation and Evaluation of Nifedipine Floating in Situ Gel for the Treatment of Hypertension

Floating in situ gels represent an innovative pharmaceutical formulation designed to address challenges related to drug delivery through oral route. The aim of the present study was to formulate and evaluate floating in situ gel of Nifedipine. Floating in situ gel of Nifedipine was prepared by cation driven gelation method. In the present study four different formulations were prepared using different concentration of sodium alginate and gellan gum as polymers. The formulations were evaluated for physical parameters like pH, viscosity, water uptake by the gel, in vitro gelation, in vitro buoyancy, gel strength, drug content and in vitro drug release studies. FTIR spectra revealed that, there was no interaction between drugs and excipients. The drug content of all the formulations was ranged between 83.33% to 89.32% and cumulative drug release was ranged between 87.82% to 97.34%. Among the four formulations, F2 was identified as the potential candidate due to its immediate gelation and floating, optimum pH, viscosity and increased cumulative drug release.