A Review on Film Forming Drug Delivery Systems

Conventional dosage forms for topical and transdermal drug delivery have several disadvantages related mainly to its poor skin permeation and patient compliance. Many approaches have been developed to improve these dosage forms. Film forming drug delivery systems represents a recent advancement in this field. It provides improved patient compliance with enhanced skin permeation of drugs. In its simplest form, these consist of a polymeric solution, usually in a supersaturated state, in a suitable solvent. A plasticizer is usually added to improve the flexibility and enhance the tensile strength to the film. It is also possible to control and sustain the drug release from the films by controlling the polymeric content, concentration of plasticizer, or formulation with other additives. In this review, we are summarizing the mechanism of formation of these films as well as its types and possible applications. The main ingredients, properties, and evaluation of the various film forming delivery systems are also discussed.

The function of oxybuprocaine: a parachute effect that sustains the supersaturated state of anhydrous piroxicam crystals

A small molecule, oxybuprocaine, has a parachute effect on the supersaturated state of piroxicam anhydrous crystals.

Polymeric precipitation inhibitor as an effective trigger to convert supersaturated into supersaturable state in vivo

The supersaturated state of the drug in vivo is thermodynamically unstable resulting in a delayed response and reduced efficacy. The use of polymeric precipitation inhibitor (PPI) has been demonstrated as an effective trigger for the conversion of supersaturated state to supersaturable state for improving solubilization, thermodynamic maintenance of drug concentration and oral absorption of poorly water-soluble compounds. PPI retards drug precipitation and provides a kinetically stabilized supersaturation state for an extended period in gastric and intestinal fluids. However, the selection of appropriate PPI and understanding its mechanism is a challenge for formulating a stable pharmaceutical formulation. The present review is aimed at understanding the intricacies of selecting PPIs and their applications in pharmaceutical formulations.