Nanoparticles loaded in consumable polymeric oral films: A smart dosage form design for oral administration

This review article provides an overview of nanoparticles in polymeric oral thin films as smart, non-parenteral and noninvasive route of drug administration to achieve patient compliance for varied therapeutic applications. The increasing research trend towards developing biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles as sustained release mucoadhesive patches with potential to improve pharmacokinetics and bioavailability significantly has given impetus to drug repurposing of existing molecules to new boundaries. Most widely used polymers to prepare nanoparticles include alginate and chitosan as they are biodegradable, biocompatible, demonstrated low toxicity in in vitro and in vivo models and has already been approved for dietary use and wound dressing applications. Chitosan particularly has been used as a carrier for polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery through various routes of administration. Nanoparticles (NP) prepared using chitosan and chitosan derivatives typically possess a positive surface charge and has mucoadhesive properties such that they can adhere to mucus membranes and release the drug in a sustained release manner. They have various applications for the treatment of cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, pulmonary diseases, drug delivery to the brain and ocular infections through non-parenteral route of drug delivery.