Rajni Bala

Solubility plays a vital role in achieving the therapeutic efficacy of a drug from a dosage form. Advances in molecular screening techniques for identification of potential drug molecules investigated an increased number of new pharmacologically active lipophilic compounds that are poorly water soluble. About 40% of new chemical entities have been discovered as poorly water soluble. Numbers of technical strategies have been investigated for improving bioavailability like solid dispersions, cyclodextrins, micronization, surfactants, nanoparticles, lipids, permeation enhancers etc. It is a great task for pharmaceutical scientist to formulate oral dosage forms of these drug candidates with sufficient bioavailability. Among the various approaches to improve oral bioavailability of these drug candidates, Self- dispersing lipid formulations (SDLF’s) is one of the approaches used to improve the bioavailability of lipophilic drugs. SDLF’s is very broad area which covers Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS), Self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) and Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) as carrier systems that have been developed. This review article covers basics of SDLF’s particularly SMEDDS and recent research updates in SDLF’s i.e. the research carried out and most recent solid SDLF’s.

  In the recent years, many of the pharmaceutical groups are focusing their research on rapid dissolving technology. This technology evolved over the past few years from the confection and oral care markets in the form of breath strips and became a novel and widely accepted form by consumers, so OFDFs are gaining the interest of large number of pharmaceutical industries. The main advantage of this technology is the administration to pediatric and geriatric patient population where the difficulty of swallowing larger oral dosage forms is eliminated. This fast dissolving drug delivery system (FDDS) is suited for the drugs which undergo high first pass metabolism and is used for improving bioavailability with reducing dosing frequency to mouth plasma peak levels, which in turn minimize adverse/side effects and also make it cost effective. Orally fast dissolving film is the type of drug delivery system which when placed in the oral cavity, disintegrate or dissolve within few seconds without the intake of water. OFDFs are very similar to postage stamp in their shape, size and thickness. The present review provides an account of various formulation considerations, method of preparation and quality control of the OFDFs. Key words: Fast dissolving Films, Buccal film, Improved Patient Compliance, Pediatric Patients, Geriatric Patients.

  Recent development in drug delivery system are going on aims to enhance safety and efficacy of drug molecules by formulating a convenient dosage form for ease of administration and to achieve better patient compliance. Novel technologies with improved performance, patient compliance, and enhanced quality have emerged in the recent past. Oral fast-dispersing dosage forms, three-dimensional Printing (3DP) and electrostatic coating are a few examples of a few existing technologies with the potential to accommodate various physico-chemical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of drugs. This article provides a comprehensive review on various formulation aspects, technologies and evaluation methodologies, suitability of drug candidates, and future prospects of oral fast-dispersing dosage forms.   Key words: Improved patient compliances, oral fast–dispersing dosage form, quick-disintegrating tablets