Development, Evaluation, and Molecular Docking of Oral Dissolving Film of Atenolol

Orodispersible Films: Current Innovations and Emerging Trends

Orodispersible films (ODFs) are thin, mechanically strong, and flexible polymeric films that are designed to dissolve or disintegrate rapidly in the oral cavity for local and/or systemic drug delivery. This review examines various aspects of ODFs and their potential as a drug delivery system. Recent advancements, including the detailed exploration of formulation components, such as polymers and plasticizers, are briefed. The review highlights the versatility of preparation methods, particularly the solvent-casting production process, and novel 3D printing techniques that bring inherent flexibility. Three-dimensional printing technology not only diversifies active compounds but also enables a multilayer approach, effectively segregating incompatible drugs. The integration of nanoparticles into ODF formulations marks a significant breakthrough, thus enhancing the efficiency of oral drug delivery and broadening the scope of the drugs amenable to this route. This review also sheds light on the diverse in vitro evaluation methods utilized to characterize ODFs, ongoing clinical trials, approved marketed products, and recent patents, providing a comprehensive outlook of the evolving landscape of orodispersible drug delivery. Current patient-centric approaches involve developing ODFs with patient-friendly attributes, such as improved taste masking, ease of administration, and enhanced patient compliance, along with the personalization of ODF formulations to meet individual patient needs. Investigating novel functional excipients with the potential to enhance the permeation of high-molecular-weight polar drugs, fragile proteins, and oligonucleotides is crucial for rapid progress in the advancing domain of orodispersible drug delivery.

The Potential of Films as Transmucosal Drug Delivery Systems

Pharmaceutical films are polymeric formulations used as a delivery platform for administration of small and macromolecular drugs for local or systemic action. They can be produced by using synthetic, semi-synthetic, or natural polymers through solvent casting, electrospinning, hot-melt extrusion, and 3D printing methods, and depending on the components and the manufacturing methods used, the films allow the modulation of drug release. Moreover, they have advantages that have drawn interest in the development and evaluation of film application on the buccal, nasal, vaginal, and ocular mucosa. This review aims to provide an overview of and critically discuss the use of films as transmucosal drug delivery systems. For this, aspects such as the composition of these formulations, the theories of mucoadhesion, and the methods of production were deeply considered, and an analysis of the main transmucosal pathways for which there are examples of developed films was conducted. All of this allowed us to point out the most relevant characteristics and opportunities that deserve to be taken into account in the use of films as transmucosal drug delivery systems.

Captopril Polyvinyl Alcohol/Sodium Alginate/Gelatin-Based Oral Dispersible Films (ODFs) with Modified Release and Advanced Oral Bioavailability for the Treatment of Pediatric Hypertension

Hypertension can begin in childhood; elevated blood pressure in children is known as pediatric hypertension. Contrary to adult hypertension, there is a scarcity of commercial medications suitable for the treatment of pediatric hypertension. The aim of this study was to develop orally dispersible films (ODFs) loaded with captopril for the treatment of hypertension in children. Captopril-loaded ODFs were composed of different blends of synthetic polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and natural polymers, such as sodium alginate (SA) and gelatin. The ODFs were characterized based on their mechanical and thermal properties, drug content, surface morphology, in vitro disintegration, in vitro release, and bioavailability. A novel HPLC method with precolumn derivatization was developed to precisely and selectively determine captopril levels in plasma. A low concentration of PVA and a high concentration of SA generated ODFs with faster hydration and disintegration rates. SA-based films exhibited fast disintegration properties (1-2 min). The optimized modified-release film (F2) showed significant (p < 0.05) enhancement in bioavailability (AUC = 1000 ng min/mL), with a value 1.43 times that of Capoten® tablets (701 ng min/mL). While the plasma concentration peaking was in favor of the immediate-release tablet, Tmax was significantly prolonged by 5.4 times for the optimized ODF (3.59 h) compared with that of the tablets (0.66 h). These findings indicate uniform and sustained plasma concentrations, as opposed to the pulsatile and rapid plasma peaking of captopril from the immediate-release tablets. These findings suggest that the modified release of oral films could offer more favorable plasma profiles and better control of hypertension than the conventional release tablets.

Orodispersible Films-Current State of the Art, Limitations, Advances and Future Perspectives

Orodispersible Films (ODFs) are drug delivery systems manufactured with a wide range of methods on a big scale or for customized medicines and small-scale pharmacy. Both ODFs and their fabrication methods have certain limitations. Many pharmaceutical companies and academic research centers across the world cooperate in order to cope with these issues and also to find new formulations for a wide array of APIs what could make their work profitable for them and beneficial for patients as well. The number of pending patent applications and granted patents with their innovative approaches makes the progress in the manufacturing of ODFs unquestionable. The number of commercially available ODFs is still growing. However, some of them were discontinued and are no longer available on the markets. This review aims to summarize currently marketed ODFs and those withdrawn from sale and also provides an insight into recently published studies concerning orodispersible films, emphasizing of utilized APIs. The work also highlights the attempts of scientific communities to overcome ODF's manufacturing methods limitations.