Chewable Tablets and Mouth-Dissolving Films Revolutionizing Drug Administration

Oral drug delivery has evolved a lot in terms of patient compliance, bioavailability, and therapeutic action. The present review integrates advancements in chew tablets and mouth-dissolving films according to their formulation strategy, merits and application in pediatric and geriatric patients. They improve patient compliance due to good solubility and quick action. Nanotechnology has been a central force in drug delivery system transformation. Liposomal drug carriers, polymer therapeutic carriers and nanoparticle formulations have enabled the increase in solubility, controlled release and site-specificity of drugs. These strategies maximize pharmacokinetics and minimize systemic side effects. Furthermore, utilization of the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect has enabled targeted drug delivery with maximum therapeutic efficacy and minimum toxicity. Overcoming the biologic barrier continues to pose a challenge in oral drug delivery. Transdermal and mucosal delivery systems have made rapid onset of drug action possible by circumventing enzymatic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract. All such innovations support each other in serving in the direction of greater patient benefit and drug efficacy. This review systematically discusses the current advances in oral drug delivery with special focus on the use of chewable tablets, mouth-dissolving films and nanotechnology-based strategies. The emergence of these novel technologies is the key to an electrifying future of optimized drug delivery and therapeutic effect.