ORODISPERSIBLE FILMS: AN AVANT-GARDE WATER FREE DRUG DELIVERY

Abstract

The administration of medication to patients such as geriatric and pediatric patients is difficult because they have difficulty swallowing drugs with water, and there is dysphagia, i.e., fear of choking. Orodispersible films are therefore becoming increasingly popular because they boost treatment adherence and provide targeted patient groups with a water free pharmaceutical delivery system. Orodispersible films (odfs) are a new type of avant-garde formulation prepared with the help of many methods of which the most often utilized technique is solvent casting. However, a number of challenges still exist for odfs and their formulation methods. To address these challenges, a number of scientists and pharmaceutical companies are working together to develop formulations that can deliver a wide range of medications in an efficient way that would be very useful for both patients and the pharmaceutical industries. At present there is exponential growth in the use of odfs because of their ability to avoid first-pass hepatic metabolism, faster absorption, with several advantages. Patents that are filed worldwide for patent approval and the presence of numerous odfs products confirm that the future of odfs has a great potential. This review strives to offer a thorough outline of odfs with various pros and cons along with the formulation approaches as well as evaluation and scope of their future for becoming pioneer water-free medications for the target group of patients.