Patients often find conventional medication administration methods distressing, including swallowing tablets, consuming bitter syrups, and receiving injections. Especially, medicating young children can be difficult due to unpalatable tastes, and managing multiple tablets in the elderly can be challenging.
But Painful injections and bitter pills could soon become a thing of the past.
Now, researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) developed an innovative oral film that provides painless, hassle-free, and precise drug delivery while also being environmentally friendly.
Placing these oral films on the inner lining of the cheek enables the direct release of medication into the bloodstream, ensuring precise dosage delivery. Bypassing the digestive system makes it an effective solution for patients experiencing intractable nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, or problems with gut absorption.
The film swells and dissolves in the mouth after a predetermined amount of time. Any remaining residue can be either removed or swallowed, as all the ingredients used in the film are edible and non-toxic.
The oral films are round and thin, available in two sizes resembling Singaporean coins, approximately 0.7 in (18.5 mm) or 0.8 in (20 mm) in diameter. Customized ingredients for specific medications are mixed with a drug solution and applied onto the film, which is dried using a light-duty oven. Finally, the films are sealed in compact packaging.
The researchers’ approach eliminates dosing errors and the risk of choking on liquid medications, while also reducing packaging waste and being more environmentally friendly.
