Tuty Fareyhynn Mohammed Fitri, Azlin Fazlina Osman, Sinar Arzuria Adnan, Heru Suryanto
Buccal films are sophisticated mucoadhesive dosage forms designed to administer therapeutic agents through the buccal mucosa. The field of buccal film research and development has progressed substantially, with numerous studies examining various polymers, drug candidates, and formulations. Compared to traditional oral dosage forms, polymer-based buccal films present several advantages, such as ease of administration, enhanced patient compliance, and the potential for targeted drug delivery. The examination of both natural and synthetic polymers in the creation of buccal films has resulted in a wide variety of formulations, each with distinct characteristics and performance metrics. The choice of suitable polymers is crucial, as it influences the mechanical properties of the films, drug release kinetics, and overall biocompatibility. Natural polymers, sourced from renewable materials, boast inherent biocompatibility and biodegradability, rendering them appealing options for buccal film development. On the other hand, synthetic polymers afford greater control over material properties and can be specifically engineered to achieve targeted drug release profiles. While, smart polymer buccal films represent a sophisticated approach to drug delivery by incorporating stimuli-responsive polymers with strong mucoadhesive characteristics, enabling the regulated release of medication via the buccal mucosa. This review also provided a thorough understanding of the advantages and limitations associated with both natural, synthetic and smart polymers, which is vital for the rational design of effective buccal film formulations. The required properties of the polymeric buccal films such as mucoadhesion, folding endurance and permeability as drug carrier are also discussed by summarizing the findings from the previous research works, highlighting the importance of these aspects for future development of the polymeric based buccal film with great performance. The constraints of the buccal films developed to date, as well as their possible avenues for future improvement, have been examined. © 2026 The Author(s).
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Kompleks Pusat Pengajian Jejawi 2, Perlis, Arau, 02600, Malaysia; Biomedical and Nanotechnology Research Group, Centre of Excellence Geopolymer and Green Technology (CegeoGTech), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Perlis, Arau, 02600, Malaysia; Center of Excellence for Cellulose Composite (CECCom), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jl. Semarang5, Malang, 65145, Indonesia
