Trial lecture - time and place
10.30.2026, 10:15, Helga Eng, Auditorium 1
From Tablet Film Coating to Oromucosal Film Formulations: Is Knowledge Transferable
Conferral summary
Avhandlingen undersøkte hvordan tynne polymerbaserte filmer og wafere kan formuleres for å gi legemidler via munnslimhinnen eller lokalt i munnhulen. To ulike polymersystemer ble studert, og resultatene viser hvordan valg av polymer og sammensetning av formuleringen kan styre legemiddelfrigjøring og hvordan formuleringen oppfører seg i munnen, samt at formuleringene kan tilpasses både lokal og systemisk legemiddelbehandling.
Main research findings
Not everyone can easily swallow a conventional tablet, particularly children and people with painful conditions in the mouth. This thesis explored how polymers can be used to develop thin films and porous wafers that deliver medicines in the mouth and can be tailored to different patient needs.
Two polymer systems were investigated. Chitosan, which can attach to moist surfaces in the mouth, was used to develop films and wafers for both systemic and local drug delivery. Modifying the properties of chitosan could control swelling and drug release. Chitosan could also serve as a protective layer in two-layer films, helping to keep a local anaesthetic at a painful area while limiting drug release through the other side.
A second polymer system, based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl acetate) copolymers, was used to control drug release. Adjusting the balance between the two monomers changed how quickly a poorly water-soluble drug was released. These materials could also be processed by three-dimensional printing, offering a flexible manufacturing approach.
Finally, a simple method was established to assess drug-polymer interactions and predict their effect on drug release rate.
Together, these findings show how polymer selection and formulation design can help create more flexible oromucosal medicines.