The objective of this investigation is to develop a multi-unit gastroretentive sustained release dosage form of a water soluble drug, Ranitidine hydrochloride, from a completely aqueous environment avoiding the use of any organic solvent, which could cure peptic ulcer more efficiently by releasing the drug especially in stomach and also for a prolonged duration of time. A new emulsion gelation technique was used to prepare emulsion gel beads using sodium alginate as the polymer. The gel beads containing oil was prepared by gently mixing or homogenizing oil and water phase containing sodium alginate which was then extruded in to calcium chloride solution. The effects of factors like concentration of oil, curing time, drug: polymer ratio, alginate: pectin ratio and curing agent on drug entrapment efficiency, floating lag time, morphology and drug release were studied. Minimizing the curing time of beads leaded to enhanced drug entrapment efficiency. The use of sodium alginate and combinations of sodium alginate and pectin were used to study the effect on the sustaining property of the formed beads. It was found that sodium alginate was not sufficient to sustain the drug release at gastric pH. Instead of it, appropriate combination of alginate and pectin could provide the sustain release of drug. The results show that these beads can entrap even a water soluble drug as Ranitidine hydrochloride in sufficient amount and also can successfully deliver the drug in stomach for a prolong duration of time without using any organic solvent and any time consuming step in the preparation
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