A Review on Fast Dissolving Tablets Using Natural Superdisintegrants

Abstract

Fast dissolving tablets (FDTs) are an advanced oral drug delivery system designed to disintegrate rapidly in the oral cavity without the need for water. They offer significant advantages in improving patient compliance, especially among pediatric, geriatric, and dysphagic patients who face difficulty in swallowing conventional tablets. The rapid disintegration of FDTs is mainly attributed to the presence of superdisintegrants, which facilitate quick tablet breakup upon contact with saliva. Natural superdisintegrants have gained increasing attention as alternatives to synthetic agents due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendly nature. Various natural materials such as Plantago ovata, Lepidium sativum, fenugreek mucilage, and guar gum have shown excellent swelling and disintegration properties. This review highlights the formulation approaches, mechanisms of action, preparation methods, and evaluation parameters of FDTs. It also discusses their wide applications in different therapeutic areas along with challenges such as stability issues, moisture sensitivity, and scale-up difficulties. Overall, natural superdisintegrants provide a promising and sustainable approach for developing efficient and patient-friendly fast dissolving tablets.

Keywords: Fast dissolving tablets, Natural superdisintegrants, Oral drug delivery, Rapid disintegration, Patient compliance, Bioavailability, Tablet formulation, Mucilage