Film-Forming Systems in Topical Drug Delivery: A Comprehensive Review

The topical route is an attractive alternative to oral and parenteral drug delivery but is limited by the stratum corneum barrier and poor patient compliance with conventional dosage forms. Film-Forming Systems (FFS) represent a novel approach in which a polymeric solution, emulsion, or gel forms a thin, invisible film upon solvent evaporation, ensuring sustained drug release and enhanced substantivity. This review discusses the structure of skin, challenges in dermal delivery, mechanism of film formation, formulation components, evaluation parameters, and applications of FFS. The versatility of FFS in enhancing therapeutic efficacy, improving patient adherence, and enabling controlled drug delivery positions it as a promising system for future transdermal and topical therapies.