Abstract
The use of medicines is an irreplaceable necessity in healthcare delivery. Application of advancing technology, especially the oral film techniques in pharmaceutical production has resulted in medicine availability in a trendy, readily acceptable and usable form, oral films. Although many literature abound on oral film delivery systems, there is paucity of work on recent incorporation of nanotechnology concepts and the potentials of this delivery system in improving medication adherence. Thus this work focuses on bridging this obvious gap. It reviews published works on the oral film technology, profiling recent advances in the nanoparticles incorporated into films, and necessary considerations in such formulations. It also explores oral films as a delivery system for improved adherence. Online search for articles on oral films production, marketed nanoparticle-based oral films, and the extensiveness of medication non-adherence was carried out using websites of researchgate, google search, film manufacturer’s websites, google scholar and pubmed. Search terms used were ‘marketed oral films’, ‘available medicines as oral films’, ‘nanotechnology in oral film production’, ‘oral film techniques’, ‘oral films manufacture + disease condition’ and ‘medicine adherence’. Articles were sorted on the basis of currency and practicality of information. The market space of oral film is growing steadily. Present use of oral film technology in delivering antipsychotics, antihistamines and analgesics is well received. Many drugs are currently incorporated into films in nano-sized forms to improve dissolution, bioavailability and effectiveness as revealed by the search. More can be achieved if this technology is extended to cover other classes of drugs such as antihypertensives, antiulcers and agents indicated for other chronic conditions. Fully exploring the unique features of the conventional oral films dosage forms and those embedded with nanoparticulate drug forms, therein lies the potentials to contribute to significant improvement in medication adherence even in chronic conditions.
Highlights
For its convenience, compliance and cost effectiveness, the oral route continues to be the delivery route of choice, constituting an essential part of the pharmaceutical industry [1]
Exploring the unique features of the conventional oral films dosage forms and those embedded with nanoparticulate drug forms, therein lies the potentials to contribute to significant improvement in medication adherence even in chronic conditions
Such positioning can be distressing for patient who have to adhere to prescribed regimen of oral solid dosage form especially in chronic conditions of cardiovascular, diabetic or hormonal abnormalities
Summary
Compliance and cost effectiveness, the oral route continues to be the delivery route of choice, constituting an essential part of the pharmaceutical industry [1]. Corresponding author: Effiong Daniel Ekpa, Phone: +2348067141688, email: Effiong et al / GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2020, 11(03), 034–051 of action but administered orally They are usually made up of hydrophilic polymers with incorporated active drug. There is paucity of published work on the application of nanotechnology in oral film dosage form and its application in improving medication adherence This write-up aims at bridging this observed gap. It attempts to present factors to consider during such incorporation and the potentials of using this delivery system in improving medication adherence Such information can be a quick reference and foundation for researchers and manufacturers of oral films as they attempt the design and development of this solid oral dosage form. A good background of this delivery system is a way to start
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