Formulation, Characterization and Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study of Bupropion Floating Raft System as a Promising Approach for Treating Depression

The aim of this study was to formulate, evaluate, and compare satiety-enhancing floating raft system (FRS) of bupropion as gastroretentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) using in-situ gelling pectin and alginate. Bupropion was considered as a good candidate for such systems due to high water solubility that requires frequent dosing. Pectin and alginate could prolong satiety sensation augmenting weight loss of bupropion. A 24 full factorial design was tailored to inspect the effect of the response variables (gel-forming polymer type, calcium carbonate percentage, glyceride lipid type and percentage). Gelation lag time, floating lag time, as well as drug released percent after 1 and 8 h were selected as dependent variables. The optimal system was investigated for compatibility and bioavailability study in healthy human volunteers relative to marketed Wellbutrin® sustained release tablets. The optimal FRS (3% alginate, 2% precirol®, and 2% CaCO3) was selected. This system had an optimum viscosity that will allow a rapid sol-gel transformation in the stomach, excellent floating behavior, and controlled release profile with a comparable bioavailability. The optimal FRS would be a novel liquid GRDDS in controlling bupropion rate release especially for depression associated with eating disorders or dysphagia improving patient compliance and drug efficacy.