Rapidly dissolving film for delivery of an active agent

1. A film for administration of an active agent to a body surface, the film comprising:

a blend comprised of a hydrophilic polymer and a plasticizer miscible with the hydrophilic polymer, the hydrophilic polymer and the plasticizer blended to form non-covalent bonds between the hydrophilic polymer and the plasticizer, wherein the hydrophilic polymer has an average molecular weight of approximately 100,000 to 2,000,000 Daltons and wherein the plasticizer is present in the film at a weight percent (wt%) of 10 to 40wherein the wt% of the plasticizer is based on the film composition exclusive of the active agent,

a rapidly dissolving polymeric material; and

an effective amount of an active agent,

wherein the blend and the rapidly dissolving material are effective to facilitate dissolution of the film within 10 minutes following application of the film to a moist body surface.

2. The film of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer comprises repeating units derived from monomers selected from N-vinyl lactam monomers, carboxy vinyl monomers, vinyl ester monomers, esters of a carboxy vinyl monomer, vinyl amide monomers, hydroxy vinyl monomers, and combinations thereof.

3. The film of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from poly(N-vinyl lactams), poly(N-vinyl amides), poly(N-vinyl acrylamides), poly(N-alkylacrylamides), poly(N-vinyl acetamides), substituted and unsubstituted acrylic and methacrylic acid polymers, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylamine, and copolymers and blends thereof.

4. The film of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from poly(N-vinyl lactams), poly(N-vinyl amides), poly(N-alkylacrylamides), and copolymers and blends thereof.

5. The film of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a poly(N-vinyl lactam).

6. The film of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a poly(N-vinyl lactam) homopolymer.

7. The film of claim 6 , wherein the poly(N-vinyl lactam) is selected from polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl caprolactam, and blends thereof.

8. The film of claim 7 , wherein the poly(N-vinyl lactam) is polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

9. The film of claim 7 , wherein the poly(N-vinyl lactam) is polyvinyl caprolactam.

10. The film of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer has a number average molecular weight in the range of approximately 500,000 to 1,500,000.

11. The film of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dialkyl phthalates, dicycloalkyl phthalates, diaryl phthalates, mixed alkyl-aryl phthalates, alkyl phosphates, aryl phosphates, alkyl citrates, citrate esters, alkyl adipates, dialkyl tartrates, dialkyl sebacates, dialkyl succinates, alkyl glycolates, alkyl glycerolates, glycol esters, glycerol esters, and mixtures thereof.

12. The film of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dipropyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, di-isopropyl phthalate, diamyl phthalate, dicapryl phthalate, tributyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, trimethyl citrate, triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, trihexyl citrate, dioctyl adipate, diethyl adipate, di(2 -methylethyl)adipate, dihexyladipate, diethyl tartrate, dibutyl tartrate, diethyl sebacate, dipropyl sebacate, dinonyl sebacate, diethyl succinate, dibutyl succinate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, glycerol mono lactate diacetate, methyl phthalyl ethyl glycolate, butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, ethylene glycol diacetate, ethylene glycol dibutyrate, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethylene glycol dibutyrate, triethylene glycol dipropionate, and mixtures thereof.

13. The film of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from tributyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, trimethyl citrate, triethyl citrate, and tributyl citrate.

14. The film of claim 1 , comprising 40 to 60 wt% of the hydrophilic polymer, wherein the wt% of the hydrophilic polymer is based on the film composition exclusive of the active agent.

15. The film of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is a bifunctional, linear oligomer having a functional group at each terminus, each of said terminal functional groups capable of non-covalently binding to the hydrophilic polymer.

16. The film of claim 15 , wherein the bifunctional, linear oligomer has a molecular weight in the range of approximately 45 Daltons to approximately 800 Daltons.

17. The film of claim 15 , wherein the bifunctional, linear oligomer is polyethylene glycol.

18. The film of claim 17 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight of 400.

19. The film of claim 15 , wherein the bifunctional, linear oligomer has a molecular weight in the range of approximately 45 Daltons to approximately 600 Daltons.

20. The film of claim 15 , wherein the terminal functional groups are selected from hydroxyl, carboxy, and amino groups.

21. The film of claim 15 , wherein the terminal functional groups are selected from hydroxyl and carboxy groups.

22. The film of claim 15 , wherein the terminal functional groups are hydroxyl groups.

23. The film of claim 22 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer and the plasticizer have a weight ratio of about 1:10 to 10:1.

24. The film of claim 22 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer and the plasticizer have a weight ratio of about 1.5:1 to about 3:1.

25. The film of claim 22 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer and the plasticizer have a weight ratio of about 2:1.

26. The film of claim 1 , wherein the rapidly dissolving polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone, alginic acid, agar, and bentonite.

27. The film of claim 1 , wherein the rapidly dissolving polymeric material is selected from oligosaccharides and polysaccharides.

28. The film of claim 1 , wherein the rapidly dissolving polymeric material is a cellulose derivative having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 Daltons to 300,000 Daltons.

29. The film of claim 1 , wherein the rapidly dissolving polymeric material is maltodextrin.

30. The film of claim 1 , wherein the active agent is a pharmacologically active agent and the effective amount is a therapeutically effective amount.

31. The film of claim 30 , wherein the active agent is a locally acting agent.

32. The film of claim 30 , wherein the active agent is a systemically acting agent.

33. The film of claim 1 , wherein the active agent is contained in discrete particles dispersed throughout the film.

34. The film of claim 1 , which dissolves within about 5 to 30 seconds following application of the film to a moist body surface.

35. The film of claim 1 , which dissolves in less than about 30 seconds following application of the film to a moist body surface.

36. The film of claim 1 , having a thickness of at least one 1 mm.

37. The film of claim 1 , having a thickness in the range of about 100 mm to 200 mm.

38. A method for administering an active agent to a patient, comprising placing the film of claim 1 on a moist body surface of the patient and allowing the film to dissolve.

39. The method of claim 38 , wherein the moist body surface of the patient is mucosal tissue.

40. The method of claim 38 , wherein the moist body surface is selected from skin that is externally moistened.

41. A film for administration of an active agent to a body surface, the film comprising:

(a) a blend consisting of (i) a hydrophilic polymer having an average molecular weight of approximately 100,000 to 2,000,000 Daltons, and (ii) about 10 to 40 wt% of a plasticizer having a molecular weight of between 45 to 800 Daltons, and

(b) rapidly dissolving polymeric material, the hydrophilic polymer and the plasticizer blended to form non-covalent bonds between the hydrophilic polymer and the plasticizer, wherein the wt% of the plasticizer and of the rapidly dissolving polymeric material is each based on the film composition exclusive of the active agent; and

an effective amount of an active agent,

wherein the blend and the rapidly dissolving material are effective to facilitate dissolution of the film within 10 minutes following application of the film to a moist body surface.

42. The film of claim 41 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from poly(N-vinyl lactams), poly(N-vinyl amides), poly(N-alkylacrylamides), and copolymers and blends thereof.

43. The film of claim 41 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a poly(N-vinyl lactam).

44. The film of claim 43 , wherein the poly(N-vinyl lactam) is polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

45. The film of claim 41 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer has a number average molecular weight in the range of approximately 500,000 to 1,500,000 Daltons.

46. The film of claim 41 , wherein the rapidly dissolving polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone, alginic acid, agar, and bentonite.

47. The film of claim 41 , wherein the active agent is for treatment of a condition involving teeth or surrounding tissue.