Atorvastatin calcium is a BCS class-II competitive HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor having a half-life (almost 14 hour). The aim of the present work is to formulate and evaluate gastro retensive in-situ floating gels of atorvastatin calcium in form of cubosomes. The drug, excipients and formulation are characterized by FTIR. Cubosomes are prepared by Top down approach employing Glyceryl monooleate (GMO) as lipid phase vehicle, Pluronic F127 as stabilizer and distilled water as aqueous phase, Atorvastatin calcium as active pharmaceutical ingredient. The resultant cubosome dispersion is evaluated for drug release by diffusion studies, subjected to zeta-sizing and visualized by transmission electron microscopy. Floating gels are prepared in a manner similar to cubosome dispersion employing gelling agents like Sodium alginate, Guar gum, Xanthan gum, Carbopol 934 B.P. The formulated gels are evaluated for viscosity, gelation property, pH and drug release by diffusion studies. The compatibility studies by infrared spectroscopy showed no interaction between the drug and excipients. Cubosome formulation ACF6 containing 25% GMO showed a maximum drug release of 94 % within 5 hours. The concentration of GMO from above optimized cubosome formulation is used in formulation of floating gels. Sustained release up to 8 hours was observed in gels formulated with carbopol 934, guar gum and Sodium alginate (ACFCNG2). In vitro release kinetics exhibited sustained release and followed non- Fickian diffusion and secondary case 2 by the optimized formulations. Satisfactory viscosity and pH values are obtained.
