Gastro-floating bilayer tablets for the sustained release of metformin and immediate release of pioglitazone: Preparation and in vitro/in vivo evaluation

Owing to the complementary mechanisms of action of metformin hydrochloride (MH) and pioglitazone hydrochloride (PG), combination therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus using the two drugs is highly desired; on the other hand, MH is not well absorbed in lower gastrointestinal tract and has a short half-life, therefore compromising the therapeutic effects. Herein, the present study was to develop gastro-floating bilayer matrix tablets in which the two drugs were incorporated into two separate layers, aiming at sustaining MH release with enhanced absorption and achieving immediate release of PG. The tablets of the optimized formulation floated on the test medium for more than 24 h with 5 min of floating lag time, and sustained MH release for 12 h via a diffusion-dependent manner; and complete release of PG within 5 min were achieved. Moreover, a steady plasma concentration of MH with a 1.5-fold increase in bioavailability, decreased Cmax and reduced Tmax was obtained, and the in vivo behavior of PG was similar to the marked product. Summarily, sustained MH release with improved absorption and immediate release of PG were obtained simultaneously using the gastro-floating bilayer tablet, allowing strengthened combination therapy for diabetes mellitus.

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