Aminoacids as non-traditional plasticizers of maltodextrins fast-dissolving films

Biocompatible Natural Polymers and Cutting-Edge Fabrication Techniques in the Development of Next-Generation Oral Thin Films for Enhanced Drug Delivery Systems

Oral thin films are changing the way drugs are delivered, making drug administration more convenient and patient-friendly. This review delves into the fascinating possibilities of natural polymers in thin film design. We consider the benefits of biocompatible polymers produced from chitosan, gelatin, and pullulan. Their intrinsic biodegradability and safety make them excellent for use with a wide range of patients. Additionally, the research investigates novel strategies for creating these distinctive drug delivery systems. We look beyond standard solvent casting techniques, hot melt extrusion methods, rolling methods, etc. These technologies provide exact control over film qualities, allowing for tailored medication delivery and increased patient compliance. This review seeks to bridge the gap between natural polymers and cutting-edge fabrication processes. By investigating this combination, we pave the road for the development of next-generation oral thin films that are more efficacious, patient-acceptable, and environmentally-friendly.

Exploring Vacuum Compression Molding as a Preparation Method for Flexible-Dose Pediatric Orodispersible Films

In recent years, solid dosage forms have gained interest in pediatric therapy because they can provide valuable benefits in terms of dose accuracy and stability. Particularly for orodispersible films (ODFs), the literature evidences increased acceptability and dose flexibility. Among the various available technologies for obtaining ODFs, such as solvent casting, hot-melt extrusion, and ink printing technologies, the solvent-free preparation methods exhibit significant advantages. This study investigated Vacuum Compression Molding (VCM) as a solvent-free manufacturing method for the preparation of flexible-dose pediatric orodispersible films. The experimental approach focused on selecting the appropriate plasticizer and ratios of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, diclofenac sodium, followed by the study of their impacts on the mechanical properties, disintegration time, and drug release profile of the ODFs. Additional investigations were performed to obtain insights regarding the solid-state properties. The ODFs obtained by VCM displayed adequate quality in terms of their critical characteristics. Therefore, this proof-of-concept study shows how VCM could be utilized as a standalone method for the production of small-scale ODFs, enabling the customization of doses to meet the individual needs of pediatric patients.

The Use of Micro-Ribbons and Micro-Fibres in the Formulation of 3D Printed Fast Dissolving Oral Films

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) allows production of novel fast dissolving oral films (FDFs). However, mechanical properties of the films may not be desirable when certain excipients are used. This work investigated whether adding chitosan micro-ribbons or cellulose microfibres will achieve desired FDFs by fused deposition modelling 3DP. Filaments containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and paracetamol as model drug were manufactured at 170 °C. At 130 °C, filaments containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and paracetamol were also created. FDFs were printed with plain or mesh patterns at temperatures of 200 °C (PVA) or 180 °C (PVP). Both chitosan micro-ribbons and cellulose micro-fibres improved filament mechanical properties at 1% w/w concentration in terms of flexibility and stiffness. The filaments were not suitable for printing at higher concentrations of chitosan micro-ribbons and cellulose micro-fibres. Furthermore, mesh FDFs containing only 1% chitosan micro-ribbons disintegrated in distilled water within 40.33 ± 4.64 s, while mesh FDFs containing only 7% croscarmellose disintegrated in 55.33 ± 2.86 s, and croscarmellose containing films showed signs of excipient scorching for PVA polymer. Cellulose micro-fibres delayed disintegration of PVA mesh films to 108.66 ± 3.68 s at 1% w/w. In conclusion, only chitosan micro-ribbons created a network of hydrophilic channels within the films, which allowed faster disintegration time at considerably lower concentrations.

Orodispersible Film (ODF) Platform Based on Maltodextrin for Therapeutical Applications

Orodispersible film (ODF) is a new dosage form that disperses rapidly in the mouth without water or swallowing. The main ingredient of an ODF is a polymer that can be both of natural or synthetic origin. Maltodextrin is a natural polymer, mainly used in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields. This review aims to examine the literature regarding ODFs based on maltodextrin as the platform for developing new products for therapeutical application. ODFs based on maltodextrin contain plasticizers that enhance their flexibility and reduce their brittleness. Surfactants; fillers, such as homopolymer and copolymer of vinylacetate; flavour and sweetener were introduced to improve ODF characteristics. Both water-soluble and insoluble APIs were introduced up to 100 mg per dosage unit. The solvent casting method and hot-melt extrusion are the most useful techniques for preparing ODFs. In particular, the solvent casting method allows manufacturing processes to be developed from a lab scale to an industrial scale. ODFs based on maltodextrin are characterized in terms of mechanical properties, dissolution rate, taste and stability. ODFs made of maltodextrin, developed by IBSA, were tested in vivo to evaluate their bioequivalence and efficacy and were demonstrated to be a valid alternative to the marketed oral dosage forms.

Orodispersible films: Conception to quality by design

Orodispersible films (ODFs) are ultra-thin, stamp-sized, elegant, portable and patient-centric pharmaceutical dosage forms that do not need water to be ingested. They are particularly useful for paediatric and geriatric patient populations with special needs such as dysphagia, Parkinson's disease, and oral cancer. Accordingly, they hold tremendous potential in gaining patient compliance, convenience and pharmacotherapy. In the present review, conception and evolution of ODFs as a product and its technology are discussed. The review continues by providing overview about the potential of ODFs as carriers for delivering drugs, herbal extracts, probiotics and vaccines. Besides, strategies employed in drug cargo loading, taste masking of bitter drugs and enhancing drug stability are discussed. Finally, the review concludes by providing a brief overview about quality by design (QbD) principles in development of ODFs.

Relevance of production method on the physical stability and in vitro biopharmaceutical performances of olanzapine orodispersible film

This study assessed the relevance of the preparation process, namely solvent casting and hot-melt ram printing, on the biopharmaceutical performances of olanzapine orodispersible films (ODF) made of maltodextrins. Beside the clinical rationale, olanzapine was selected since it is subjected to polymorphism which impacts on its bioavailability. All ODF disintegrated in less than 3 min and showed content uniformity within the acceptable values. Dissolution testing in 3 mL of artificial saliva at pH = 6.8 evidenced that cast and printed ODF released after 5 min about 2% and 100%, respectively; at higher volume, a yellow precipitate was formed after disintegration of the cast ODF. At pH = 1.2, the t_85% for cast ODF was reached after about 20 min and only the 90% olanzapine was dissolved increasing the pH to 6.8. These differences were explained by DSC, TGA and X-ray diffraction data which demonstrated that the casting method, which included the preparation of an aqueous slurry, favours the conversion from Form I to a hydrated one. Since extruded ODF resulted physically stable after 30 months, this suggests the potentiality of this technique to load in ODF drugs undergoing solid-state modification after exposure to aqueous media.

Extemporaneous printing of diclofenac orodispersible films for pediatrics

OBJECTIVE

The possible application of a hot-melt ram extrusion printing to the preparation of diclofenac orodispersible films (ODF) made of maltodextrin was studied focusing the attention on the effects of taste-masking agents (i.e. namely mint, licorice-mint, and sucralose) and an opacifier (titanium dioxide [TiO₂]).

SIGNIFICANCE

This is a proof-of-concept of the feasibility to print ODF loaded with a thermosensitive drug substance by hot-melt technologies.

METHODS

Diclofenac sodium (DNa) ODF made of maltodextrin (dextrose equivalent (DE) = 6 ) plasticized with glycerol were prepared by hot-melt extrusion printing. ODF were characterized for disintegration time, drug content, and solid state, in vitro dissolution in deionized water and simulated salivary fluid at pH 5.7, tensile, and adhesive properties. Moreover, the stability of ODF was assessed in accelerated conditions over six months.

RESULTS

After the preparation, no variation in drug solid state was evident and the formation of impurity A of DNa was detected, even if it remained below the Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) limits (< 0.2%). Only the addition of DNa significantly improved the ODF tensile properties: the tensile strength increased from 0.17 ± 0.03 MPa (placebo ODF) to 2.21 ± 0.54 MPa (p ≤ 0.03). All ODF disintegrated in about 1 min, and the t_80% was lower than 3 min. TiO₂ reduced the static and dynamic peel forces (p ≤ 0.006) favoring the ODF detachment from the primary packaging material. During the accelerated stability study, ODF were easy to handle without fracture; the drug content, impurity A, and dissolution profiles remained superimposable.

CONCLUSION

Hot-melt printing can be suitable to prepare palatable ODF loaded with bitter thermosensitive drugs.

By-Products from Food Industry as a Promising Alternative for the Conventional Fillers for Wood-Polymer Composites

The present paper describes the application of two types of food-industry by-products, brewers' spent grain (BSG), and coffee silverskin (ŁK) as promising alternatives for the conventional beech wood flour (WF) for wood-polymer composites. The main goal was to investigate the impact of partial and complete WF substitution by BSG and ŁK on the processing, structure, physicochemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of resulting composites. Such modifications enabled significant enhancement of the melt flowability, which could noticeably increase the processing throughput. Replacement of WF with BSG and ŁK improved the ductility of composites, which affected their strength however. Such an effect was attributed to the differences in chemical composition of fillers, particularly the presence of proteins and lipids, which acted as plasticizers. Composites containing food-industry by-products were also characterized by the lower thermal stability compared to conventional WF. Nevertheless, the onset of decomposition exceeding 215 °C guarantees a safe processing window for polyethylene-based materials.

A review on orally disintegrating films (ODFs) made from natural polymers such as pullulan, maltodextrin, starch, and others

In recent years, orally disintegrating films (ODFs) have been studied as alternative ways for drug administration. They can easily be applied into the mouth and quickly disintegrate, releasing the drug with no need of water ingestion and enabling absorption through the oral mucosa. The ODFs matrices are typically composed of hydrophilic polymers, in which the natural polymers are highlighted since they are polymers extracted from natural sources, non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable, and have favorable properties for this application. Besides that, natural polymers such as polysaccharides and proteins can be applied either alone or blended with other synthetic, semi-synthetic, or natural polymers to achieve better mechanical and mucoadhesive properties and fast disintegration. In this review, we analyzed ODFs developed using natural polymers or blends involving natural polymers, such as maltodextrin, pullulan, starch, gelatin, collagen, alginate, chitosan, pectin, and others, to overview the recent publications and discuss how natural polymers can influence ODFs properties.

Rotational Molding of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Composites Filled with Wheat Bran

Application of lignocellulosic fillers in the manufacturing of wood polymer composites (WPCs) is a very popular trend of research, however it is still rarely observed in the case of rotational molding. The present study aimed to analyze the impact of wheat bran content (from 2.5 wt.% to 20 wt.%) on the performance of rotationally-molded composites based on a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) matrix. Microscopic structure (scanning electron microscopy), as well as physico-mechanical (density, porosity, tensile performance, hardness, rebound resilience, dynamic mechanical analysis), rheological (oscillatory rheometry) and thermo-mechanical (Vicat softening temperature) properties of composites were investigated. Incorporation of 2.5 wt.% and 5 wt.% of wheat bran did not cause significant deterioration of the mechanical performance of the material, despite the presence of ‘pin-holes’ at the surface. Values of tensile strength and rebound resilience were maintained at a very similar level, while hardness was slightly decreased, which was associated with the porosity of the structure. Higher loadings resulted in the deterioration of mechanical performance, which was also expressed by the noticeable rise of the adhesion factor. For lower loadings of filler did not affect the rheological properties. However, composites with 10wt.% and 20 wt.% also showed behavior suitable for rotational molding. The presented results indicate that the manufacturing of thin-walled products based on wood polymer composites via rotational molding should be considered a very interesting direction of research.

Patient Centric Pharmaceutical Drug Product Design-The Impact on Medication Adherence

Medication adherence is a growing concern for public health and poor adherence to therapy has been associated with poor health outcomes and higher costs for patients. Interventions for improving adherence need to consider the characteristics of the individual therapeutic regimens according to the needs of the patients. In particular, geriatric and paediatric populations as well as dermatological patients have special needs/preferences that should be considered when designing drug products. Patient Centric Drug Product Pharmaceutical Design (PCDPD) offers the opportunity to meet the needs and preferences of patients. Packaging, orodispersible formulations, fixed dose combinations products, multiparticulate formulations, topical formulations and 3D printing are of particular relevance in a PCDPD process. These will be addressed in this review as well as their impact on medication adherence.

Formulation, Characterization, and Optimization of Captopril Fast-Dissolving Oral Films

This work aimed to using optimization study to formulate a patient-friendly captopril fast-dissolving oral film with satisfactory disintegration time. Films were made with pullulan and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) by using the solvent-casting method. Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) was used as a compatibilizer and glycerine was used as a plasticizer. In order to find an optimum formulation, a response surface methodology and a central composite design were employed. The concentration percentages of pullulan and glycerine were considered to be the design factors. Disintegration time, tensile strength, percent elongation at break, and folding endurance were considered to be the responses. The results showed that CNF improved the compatibility and tensile strength of the pullulan and HPMC blend. Also, the rigid nature of CNF reduced the film elongation but the addition of glycerine improved its flexibility. All formulations showed an acceptable uniformity content and dissolution rate. Complete dissolution for all formulations occurred within 2 min. Films with 26% pullulan, 74% HPMC, 1% CNF, and 5% glycerine were reported to be optimum formulations for captopril fast-dissolving oral films, with 95% confidence levels. The in vivo comparison of optimized formulation with a conventional captopril sublingual tablet exhibited significant increase in AUC (~ 62%) and C_max (~ 52%) and a major decrease in T_max (~ 33%). The overall results showed that the captopril FDF is a promising candidate for enhanced in vivo orotransmucosal absorption.

Mucoadhesive Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes for the Buccal Delivery of Clobetasol

This work aimed to investigate the feasibility to design: (a) a mucoadhesive interpolyelectrolyte complex (IPEC) loaded with clobetasol propionate (CP) intended to treat oral lichen planus and (b) individuate an orodispersible dosage form suitable for its administration. IPECs were synthesized by mixing Eudragit^® E PO (EPO) and different grades of cross-linked polyacrylate derivatives, in different molar ratios, namely 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1. All IPECs resulted at nanoscale independently of their composition (120⁻200 nm). Both zeta-potentials (ζ) and mucoadhesive performances were influenced by the ratio between polymers. On the bases of the preliminary data, IPECs made of Polycarbophil and EPO in the 1:2 ratio were loaded with CP. The encapsulation efficiency was up 88% independently of the CP-IPEC ratio. The drug encapsulation caused IPEC destabilization in water, as it was noticed by the increase of ζ values and the formation of aggregates. Oral lyophilisates were prepared by freeze-drying slurries made of placebo or CP loaded IPECs, maltodextrin with a dextrose equivalent 38 and Span^®80. The optimized formulation permitted to obtain a fast disintegration upon contact with water reducing the tendency of IPECs to aggregate. Moreover, oral lyophilisates allowed improving the apparent solubility of CP throughout the in vitro release experiment.

Thermal, mechanical and drug release characteristics of an acrylic film using active pharmaceutical ingredient as non-traditional plasticizer

The objective of this study was to investigate thermal and mechanical properties as well as in vitro drug release of Eudragit® RL (ERL) film using chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) as either active pharmaceutical ingredient or non-traditional plasticizer. Differential scanning calorimeter was used to measure the glass transition temperature (Tg) of 0-100% w/w CPM in ERL physical mixture. Instron testing machine was used to investigate Young's modulus, tensile stress and tensile strain (%) of ERL film containing 20-60% w/w CPM. Finally, a Franz diffusion cell was used to study drug release from ERL films obtained from four formulations, i.e. CRHP0/0, CRHP0/5, CRHP2/0 and CRHP2/5. The Tg of ERL was decreased when the weight percentage of CPM increased. The reduction of the Tg could be described by Kwei equation, indicating the interaction between CPM and ERL. Modulus and tensile stress decreased whereas tensile strain (%) increased when weight percentage of CPM increased. The change of mechanical properties was associated with the reduction of the Tg when weight percentage of CPM increased. ERL films obtained from four formulations could release the drug in no less than 10 h. Cumulative amount of drug release per unit area of ERL film containing only CPM (CRHP0/0) was lower than those obtained from the formulations containing traditional plasticizer (CRHP0/5), surfactant (CRHP2/0) or both of them (CRHP2/5). The increase of drug release was a result of the increase of drug permeability through ERL film and drug solubility based on traditional plasticizer and surfactant, respectively.