Orodispersible Films: A Systematic Patent Review.

Background: Nowadays, Oral Film Technology (OFT) has gained much attention among all the oral drug delivery systems. Fast dissolving film, fast disintegrating film, and orodispersible film are some synonymous words for this dosage form. Without a need of liquid for administration, this dosage form dissolves in the mouth. Typically, fast dissolving film dissolves from 1 to 30 seconds.

Objective: At the root of its originality, many researchers patented their work on the aspect of orodispersible films using different drugs, polymers, excipients and employing various methods of preparation. The review focuses on details related to orodispersible films and their patents from 1979-2017, collected from various sources like USPTO, Google patent, Espacenet, Intellectual Property India.

Results: For the ease of discussion, collected patents are segregated on the basis of drugs, polymers, and method of preparation. It was found that many researchers are shifting towards fast dissolving films for better patient compliance, extended efficacy, high bioavailability, fast dissolution, and disintegration. With the help of polymers blend suitable for the drug release and improved method of preparation various parameters like tensile strength, thickness, and pH etc. can be controlled.

Conclusion: It was observed that judicial selection of polymers and polymers blends and methods of preparation are key parameters in the formulation of orodispersible film.