Orodispersible Tablets Advances and Formulation Strategies: A Review

Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) have emerged as a patient-centric oral dosage form designed to disintegrate rapidly in the oral cavity without the need for water, offering enhanced patient compliance and rapid onset of action. These tablets are particularly beneficial for pediatric, geriatric, and psychiatric patients, as well as for situations where water is unavailable, while also providing improved bioavailability for drugs susceptible to first-pass metabolism. A major challenge in ODT development is the poor aqueous solubility of many active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), especially BCS Class II and IV drugs, which limits dissolution and therapeutic efficacy. Spray drying has proven to be an effective and scalable technique for solubility enhancement, producing amorphous solid dispersions with improved dissolution profiles and stability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of ODTs, discussing their significance, formulation strategies, and the role of spray drying in enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. It also addresses challenges in taste masking, mechanical fragility, hygroscopicity, and drug-excipient compatibility. Future directions emphasize the development of robust, cost- effective, and patient-friendly ODTs with high drug loading, rapid disintegration, and improved therapeutic outcomes. By integrating advanced formulation strategies with scalable solubility enhancement techniques, ODTs are poised to play a prominent role in modern oral drug delivery, offering a convenient and effective alternative to conventional solid dosage forms.