OSMOTIC PUMP DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: A NOVAL APPROACH

Abstract

Conventional drug delivery systems have little control over their drug release and almost no control over the effective concentration at the target site. The major problem associated with conventional drug delivery system is unpredictable plasma concentrations. Controlled drug delivery systems offer spatial control over the drug release. Osmotic pumps are most promising systems for controlled drug delivery. These systems are used for both oral administration and implantation. The present review is concerned with the study of drug release systems which are tablets coated with walls of controlled porosity. . Osmotic pump uses the basic principle of osmosis for release of drug(s). Osmotic pumps consist of an inner core containing drug and osmogens, coated with a semi permeable membrane. As the core absorbs water, it expands in volume, which pushes the drug solution out through the delivery ports. Osmotic pumps release drug at a rate that is independent of the pH and hydrodynamics of the dissolution medium. Various patents available for osmotic drug delivery system like Rose-Nelson pump, Higuchi-leeper pump, higuchi-theeuwes pump and elementary osmotic pump. In this paper, various types of osmotic pump and the basic components of  osmotic system tablets have been discussed briefly.

Keywords: Osmosis, component of osmotic system, Osmotic pump