Film-Forming Sprays for Topical Drug Delivery

Abstract

Film-forming sprays offer many advantages compared to conventional topical preparations because they can provide uniform drug distribution and dose, increased bioavailability, lower incidence of irritation, continuous drug release, and accelerated wound healing through moisture control. Film-forming sprays consist of polymers and excipients that improve the characteristics of preparations and enhance the stability of active substances. Each type of polymer and excipient will produce films with different features. Therefore, the various types of polymers and excipients and their evaluation standards need to be examined for the development of a more optimal form of film-forming spray. The selected literature included research on polymers as film-forming matrices and the application of these sprays for medical purposes or for potential medical use. This article discusses the types and concentrations of polymers and excipients, sprayer types, evaluations, and critical parameters in determining the sprayability and film characteristics. The review concludes that both natural and synthetic polymers that have in situ film or viscoelastic properties can be used to optimise topical drug delivery.

Keywords:

• film-forming solution
• film-forming polymer
• topical drug delivery

Akcnowledgement

The authors thank the Universitas Padjadjaran for the Work For Home grant 2020 (Contract Number : 1733/UN6.3.1/LT/2020).

Abbreviations

API, active pharmaceutical ingredient; Eq, equation; ES, electrostatic spray; FFS, film-forming spray; HPMC, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose; HPC, hydroxypropylcellulose; IPA, isopropyl alcohol; IPM, isopropyl myristate; GG, gellan gum; LA, lauryl lactate; Na-CMC, sodium carboxymethylcellulose; NaCl, sodium chloride; NMP, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone; MDS, metered dose spray; PDDA, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride); PDMA, poly(N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate); PEO, poly(ethylene oxide); PG, propylene glycol; PVA, polyvinyl alcohol; PVP, polyvinyl pyrrolidone; SiO₂, silicon dioxide; VA, vinyl acetate.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.