A REVIEW ON ORAL DISINTEGRATING FILMS: A NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

The oral route remains the most preferred mode of drug administration due to its convenience, patient compliance, and ability to accommodate various drug candidates. However, conventional oral dosage forms face limitations such as difficulty in swallowing, delayed onset of action, and reduced bioavailability due to first-pass metabolism. Oral disintegrating films (ODFs) have emerged as an innovative drug delivery system addressing these challenges. Designed to rapidly disintegrate and dissolve upon contact with saliva, ODFs enable quick drug absorption through the oral mucosa, ensuring enhanced bioavailability and faster therapeutic action. This review explores the anatomy of the oral epithelium, formulation considerations, types of drugs suitable for ODFs, and the advantages they offer over traditional dosage forms. Additionally, various manufacturing techniques such as solvent casting, hot melt extrusion, and rolling methods are discussed. The study highlights the role of polymers, plasticizers, saliva- stimulating agents, and taste-masking components in optimizing film properties. While ODFs present numerous advantages, including ease of administration and improved patient adherence, formulation challenges such as taste masking, drug loading capacity, and stability must be addressed for broader pharmaceutical applications.