Design of rapidly disintegrating drug delivery films for oral doses with hydoxypropyl methylcellulose

The purpose of this study was to develop pharmaceutical thin films that disintegrate rapidly in the oral cavity. Films containing acetaminophen as a model drug were prepared by the solution/solvent casting method. HPMC as a polymeric film former, MCC and pregelatinized starch as disintegrants, and micronized L-HPC as both a film former and a disintegrant were examined. The disintegration time and the tensile strength were measured. The surface morphologies of the films were compared using SEM. The addition of disintegrants or especially the optimal content of L-HPC into the films shortened the disintegration time and affected the tensile strength.