Development of a Hydrocortisone Orodispersible Thin Film Containing Its Succinate Prodrug

Orodispersible thin film (ODF) is an innovative dosage form that allows for adjustable dosing and improved patient compliance. It is administered by mouth, where it dissolves, making it suitable for children. Objectives: The aim of the study was to develop and characterize an optimal ODF formulation...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Clément Boisseillier, Lucas Demange-Labriet, Dulanjalee Kariyawasam, Pauline Marchadour, Anne-Sophie Fauqueur, Maxime Annereau, Lucas Denis, Camille Cotteret, Salvatore Cisternino, Arnaud Schweitzer-Chaput
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/1/86
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Orodispersible thin film (ODF) is an innovative dosage form that allows for adjustable dosing and improved patient compliance. It is administered by mouth, where it dissolves, making it suitable for children. Objectives: The aim of the study was to develop and characterize an optimal ODF formulation containing equivalent hydrocortisone at 0.5 mg/cm<sup>2</sup> using the solvent-casting method. A stability-indicating assay for the simultaneous quantification of hydrocortisone and hydrocortisone 21-hemissucinate (HMS) was developed. ODFs were characterized by organoleptic properties and by testing for uniformity of mass, content, stability, thickness, and dissolution. Results: When optimized, ODF is thin, flexible, and transparent, making it suitable for production in hospital pharmacies using standard equipment. In contrast to the water-insoluble hydrocortisone, the HMS-loaded cast gel successfully satisfied the tests, including content uniformity. Disintegration appeared acceptable as compared to the commercial grade ondansetron ODF (Setofilm<sup>®</sup>). The physicochemical stability of the active ingredients (i.e., HMS, hydrocortisone) contained in the ODF at 0.5 mg/cm<sup>2</sup> is demonstrated for at least 84 days at 23 °C. Conclusion: The ODF formulated with the water-soluble hydrocortisone prodrug HMS allows accurate drug level to be achieved, thus opening up new opportunities for use in pediatric patients.
ISSN:1424-8247