Feasibility study on using kefiran as material for oral thin films

• Main Author: Lim, Eric Zhi Wei
• Other Authors: Loo Say Chye Joachim
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Material testing and characterization
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/77033
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

While it is widely recognised that the use of oral thin films is a drug delivery technique novelty in the pharmaceutical industry and much research has been done, it is understood that clinical trials still demand rigorous testing, which has been the greatest difficulty in pushing new drug formulations to use. This report seeks to go beyond and utilise a recently popularised polysaccharide, kefiran, to be brought into this new and upcoming field, by using it to fabricate thin films. Hence, the characteristics of the fabricated thin films would be identified, such as to provide facts for consideration for feasibility of manufacturing, transportation and consumption of such thin films which would also contain suitable drugs should they prove to be practical and affordable. As such, solvent kefiran films have been identified to be relatively robust, being resistant to expected levels of temperature and pH experienced both in the stages of post-fabrication and actual usage of it. On the other hand, electrospun kefiran films have been postulated to possess different characteristics of which could be further explored in future. Regardless, it would be ideal if a plasticiser could be identified such as to enable the ability to manipulate and fine-tune the properties of the films.