Oral Thin Film Drug Delivery Systems for Thrombosis Therapy: A Comprehensive Review

Thrombosis is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide and requires rapid and effective pharmacological intervention to prevent severe clinical outcomes such as myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and ischemic stroke. Conventional antithrombotic therapies administered as oral tablets or parenteral injections are often associated with delayed onset of action, swallowing difficulties, variable gastrointestinal absorption, poor patient compliance, and extensive first-pass metabolism. Parenteral therapies, although effective, require trained medical personnel and limit early intervention in emergency and pre-hospital settings.Oral thin film (OTF) drug delivery systems have emerged as an innovative and patient-friendly platform capable of overcoming many of these limitations. OTFs are ultra-thin polymeric films that rapidly disintegrate in the oral cavity, allowing immediate drug release and potential transmucosal absorption. This delivery approach offers rapid onset of action, ease of administration without water, improved bioavailability, and enhanced patient compliance.This comprehensive review critically discusses the application of oral thin film drug delivery systems in thrombosis therapy. It covers thrombosis pathophysiology, therapeutic drug targets, principles of OTF technology, formulation components, manufacturing techniques, evaluation and quality control parameters, formulation challenges, recent technological advancements, and future prospects. With ongoing innovations in materials science, nanotechnology, and personalized medicine, oral thin films hold significant potential for improving the effectiveness and accessibility of antithrombotic therapy in both emergency and long-term clinical care.