Oral Thin Films Drug Delivery Services

Oral thin films offer a convenient and non-invasive alternative to traditional oral dosage forms such as tablets and capsules. Protheragen-ING specializes in the development and formulation of innovative oral thin film drug delivery systems (DDS). Our experienced team of scientists and researchers is dedicated to advancing pharmaceutical technology and providing customized solutions for efficient and patient-friendly drug delivery.

Introduction to Oral Thin Film

An oral thin film is a film consisting of a single or multi-layer polymer matrix, usually applied in the mouth, designed to deliver drugs through the oral mucosa. These films are placed in the mouth where they rapidly dissolve or adhere to the mucosal surface, allowing the drug to be absorbed directly into the body's circulation. They are typically made of polymeric materials that are biocompatible and soluble.

Fig. 1 Demonstration of common site for application of film in buccal and sublingual mucosa. (Lam J.K.W, et al. 2014)

Advantages of Oral Thin Film DDS

• Oral thin films are in direct contact with the vascularized oral mucosa, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and hepatic first-pass metabolism for rapid drug absorption.
• The thin, flexible nature of oral films makes them easy to handle and administer.
• Oral thin films can be precisely formulated to deliver a specific dose of medication, ensuring accurate dosing and reducing the risk of medication errors.
• By bypassing the gastrointestinal barrier, oral thin films can enhance the bioavailability of difficult-to-solve or difficult-to-permeate drugs.

Types of Oral Thin Film

We can offer the following three common types of Oral Thin Film agents developed to meet different drug delivery requirements.

• Flash release: These oral thin films rapidly dissolve upon contact with saliva, releasing the drug for immediate absorption into the systemic circulation.
• Mucoadhesive melt-away wafers: Mucoadhesive oral thin films adhere to the oral mucosa, allowing for controlled drug release over a specific period. These films gradually dissolve or disintegrate, ensuring prolonged drug delivery.
• Mucoadhesive sustained-release wafers: These oral thin films also adhere to the oral mucosa but are designed to release the drug over an extended period, providing sustained drug levels in the body.

Our Oral Thin Film Technical Services

We offer a comprehensive range of technical services for oral film drug delivery system development. Our services include:

• Formulation development.
• Stability and compatibility studies of API with film-forming polymers and other excipients.
• Analytical method development and validation.
• Characterization of oral thin films.
• Evaluation of oral thin film efficacy.
• Scale-up and production support to assist in the transfer of oral film formulations from laboratory to commercial production.
• Oral thin film 3D printing.

Fig. 2 Multilayered oral thin films. (Gupta M.S, et al. 2020)

Preparation Methods of Oral Thin Films

We use one or a combination of the following methods to prepare oral dissolving/disintegrating thin films:

• Solvent and semisolid casting method.
• Hot melt extrusion method.
• Solid dispersion extrusion.
• Rolling method.

If you are interested in oral thin film drug delivery system development or have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to working with you and providing you with quality oral thin film technology services.