The main aim of this study was to optimize and evaluate the floating tablets of atenolol that prolongs the gastric residence time. Semi-synthetic polymer, HPMC K100M and natural polymer i.e..okra gum were used as release retarding agents by its swelling nature . Sodium bicarbonate was used as a gas-generating agent, Atenolol were prepared by direct compression method. The prepared tablets were evaluated for physicochemical parameters and found to be within range viz. hardness, swelling index, floating capacity, thickness, and weight variation. Further, tablets were evaluated for in vitro release characteristics for 8 hrs. The concentration of okra gum with a gas-generating agent was optimized to get the sustained release of atenolol for 8hrs, drug release from all the formulations followed first order kinetics and higuchi’s mechanism. The optimized (F6) formulation has better release rate. Based on the diffusion exponent (n) value, the drug release was found to be diffusion controlled.
