Novel Curcumin Floating Tablets for Spatial Delivery in Peptic Ulcer

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Peptic ulcers, caused by factors like <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection and NSAID overuse, are often treated with drugs that can have significant downsides. Curcumin, a natural compound with high therapeutic potential, faces challenges due to poor solubility and instability. Innovative delivery systems are key to unlocking curcumin's full benefits for effective peptic ulcer treatment. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> To address the challenge of curcumin's limited bioavailability, a novel drug delivery system was developed. The system employed a twofold strategy: enhancing curcumin's solubility via complexation with methyl-<i>β</i>-cyclodextrin, and formulating effervescent, gastroretentive tablets composed of hypromellose and gas-generating agents. This approach is aimed at achieving sustained gastric retention and localized drug release, thereby maximizing curcumin's therapeutic potential. <b>Results:</b> The formulated tablets exhibited excellent pharmaceutical properties, meeting all required standards for hardness, friability, and drug content. Importantly, the tablets demonstrated rapid flotation in simulated gastric fluid (buoyancy achieved within 20 s) and maintained buoyancy for approximately 16 h, indicating successful gastroretention. <i>In vitro</i> dissolution studies confirmed sustained drug release (73.92% within 9 h) following a quasi-Fickian diffusion mechanism, as per the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study presents a novel approach to enhance peptic ulcer treatment using floating tablets designed to optimize curcumin delivery. These tablets leverage cyclodextrin complexation for enhanced solubility, while their effervescent, gastroretentive properties allow for prolonged gastric residence time and targeted drug release. This strategy shows promise in improving curcumin's bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy, addressing a significant unmet need in peptic ulcer management.