SIGNIFICANCE OF FAST DISSOLVING ORAL FILMS AND ITS NOVEL APPROACH TOWARDS DRUG DELIVERY–A REVIEW
S. Sudheer and Sk. Ershadul Haque*
ABSTRACT
Novel drug delivery system is one of the frontier areas of research
towards achieving an innovative technique for drug administration
which can improve drug safety, therapeutic efficacy, stability and selflife
of an active drug. Over the past few decades, it is chosen as an
important area of research to develop innovative methods for the health
sector and pharmaceutical industries. Fast dissolving oral films
(FDOFs) in the year of 1970 initiated as an alternative to the existing
drug delivery system such as tablet, capsule, parenteral, syrup,
emulsion, cream and ointment. FDOFs are one of the most popular
drug delivery system due to its flexibility and comfort of use. These
films have a potential to absorb the drug through oral buccal mucosa
and directly enter to the systemic circulation by fast-pass metabolism.
These films have a potential to provide better drug utilization by delivering systemically
through intra-gastric and sublingual. These films are gaining popularity due to rapid drug
absorption and immediate onset of action within a few minutes of administration in buccal
cavity. FDOFs are very convenient to pediatric, geriatric and bedridden patient who faces
difficulty in swallow. FDOFs can be used for the treatment of common cold, mouth ulcer,
cardiac problem, sore throat and allergic conditions etc. These films can be formulated by
simple methods using several ingredients such as polymers, active medicaments, stabilizing
agent, surfactants, sweetening agent, flavoring agent coloring agent and saliva stimulating
agent. Evaluation of FDOFs can be done by checking several parameters such as thickness,
folding endurance, tensile strength, percentage of elongation anddisintegration test.
Additionally, drug content and dissolution test are carried out to determine amount of active drug present in the film. This review article shows all the details about formulation evaluation, packaging and marketed available product.
Keywords: Fast dissolving oral films, buccal film, fast disintegration, novel drug delivery.
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