Thin-film Delivery of Oil-Based Therapeutics

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This proposal aims to develop water-soluble polymer formulations that can be cast into thin polymer strips andcan contain pharmaceutical and nutraceutical agents in oil-form. This material will be developed into an oraldrug-delivery agent that can rapidly release the desired active ingredients within the oral cavity (sub-lingual orbuccal). Such oral delivery is advantageous as it circumvents the digestive tract, allowing active ingredients toenter directly into the bloodstream through the oral mucosa. It is also an ideal delivery vehicle for patients thatare incapable of swallowing pills, such as children, the elderly, and those suffering from nausea (such asoncology patients). A number of drug formulations are available in oil form, but dosing and administration ofsuch drugs as liquids poses challenges, in that a medical professional must measure the appropriate dose andensure that it is consistently given to the patient. Incorporation of precise quantities of therapeutic agentswithin rapidly dissolving polymer strips allows easy self-administration by the patient, and provides a highlyeffective and reliable means of drug delivery. However, dispersion of oil-based agents within a water-solublepolymer matrix is challenging, and requires development of appropriate formulations to ensure that oils areuniformly dispersed and maintain stable droplet morphology during storage. The development of suchformulations is the goal of this project.