Formulation and Evaluation of Combined Floating Bilayer Tablet of Metformin, Pioglitazone and Glimepiride

Abstract

The objective of present investigation was to design the concept of hydro dynamically balanced bilayered
tablet containing glimepiride and pioglitazone hydrochloride as immediate release layer and metformin
hydrochloride as sustain release floating layer. Floating layer of metformin hydrochloride was prepared
by employing different grades of gel forming agent and by various gas generating agent. The floating
tablets were evaluated for uniformity of weight, hardness, friability, drug content, in vitro buoyancy,
swelling index and dissolution studies. The prepared tablets exhibited satisfactory physico-chemical
characteristics. All the prepared batches showed good in vitro buoyancy. The tablet swelled radially and
axially during in vitro buoyancy studies. It was observed that the tablet remained buoyant for 12 hours.
The drug release from the tablets was sufficiently sustained.