Fast-dissolving drug-delivery systems were first developed in the late 1970s as an alternative to tablets, capsules, and syrups for pediatric and geriatric patients who experience difficulties swallowing traditional oral solid dosage forms. In response to this need, a variety of orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) formats were commercialized, which disintegrate within 1 min when placed in the mouth without drinking water or chewing. Oral drug delivery technology has improved from conventional dosage forms to modified release dosage forms to ODT to the recent oral disintegrating films (ODF). Oral disintegrating film or strip that employs a water dissolving polymer which allows the dosage form to quickly hydrate by saliva, adhere to mucosa, and disintegrate within a few seconds, dissolve and releases medication for oromucosal absorption when placed on the tongue or oral cavity. Oral strip technology provides an alternate route for drugs with first pass metabolism. This review give details of materials used in ODF, manufacturing aspects, technologies, evaluation tests and marketed products.

Sumatriptan succinate is a 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist which has well established efficacy in treating migraine. The main objective of the study was to formulate Oral Fast Disintegrating Films (ODF) and Oral Fast Disintegrating Tablets (ODT) to achieve a better dissolution rate and further improving the bioavailability of the drug.  ODFs were prepared by solvent casting method using film forming polymers like HPMC – E15,5cps,50cps in different ratios & prepared batches of films were evaluated for the drug content, film thickness, disintegration time  and in vitro dissolution studies. Among the prepared formulation F7 containing HPMC – 50cps (drug: polymer ratios = 1:1) was found to be best formulations which releases 98.2±1.1of the drug within 17±0.02 sec. ODTs prepared by direct compression method using in different concentrations of super-disintegrants. The prepared formulation T12 (combination of disintegrants) containing CP + CCS (6%) was considered to be the best formulation, which releases up to 100±0.38% of the drug in 23±0.75 sec, respectively. Based on these results, it is suggested that ODFs have faster disintegration time and drug release than ODTs.