Investigation of starch based film production and usage in drug release

Orodispersible films have attracted attention in recent years due to their simplicity of application and quick dissolution without the need for water allowing the drug to be released and absorbed from the oral mucosa. The purpose of this research is to develop starch-based paracetamol-containing films that will be convenient to use in when water is unavailable and that can be utilized by patients who experience vomiting or difficulty swallowing their medication. Orally dissolving films were obtained using wheat, rice, corn starch, gelatin, sorbitol, and paracetamol. Thickness, weight, pH values, swelling index, disintegration and dissolution times of the films were found. The characterization of films were determined with FTIR-ATR and TGA techniques. It was found that the dissolution time of films was less than 3 minutes and at the end of dissolution time, 80% of the paracetamol amount was released into the dissolution medium. The pH values of the films varied between 7.5 - 8.5, which will not irritate the oral cavity. It was observed that the surface pH values were close to the average saliva pH and were at a level that would not irritate the mucosa. As a result of FTIR-ATR analysis, it was determined that drug-loaded oral films maintained the desired integrity by preserving the basic bond structure of paracetamol. TGA analysis revealed that the highest moisture content was 7% in the film prepared using corn starch and gelatin. The results obtained within the thesis showed that thin films can be used as carrier biomaterial for paracetamol.