Authors : Prashant Wake; Rajesh Mujariya

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 4 - April

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/464rdtcr

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/52trr5hy

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26apr802

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Background: Rapid Melting Tablets (RMTs) have emerged as a revolutionary drug delivery platform designed to enhance patient compliance, particularly among pediatric, geriatric, and psychiatric populations suffering from dysphagia. Unlike conventional oral dosage forms, RMTs are engineered to disintegrate instantaneously in the oral cavity without the need for water, providing a smooth, palatable "melt" sensation.  Objective: This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape of RMTs, focusing on the critical balance between formulation components, manufacturing complexities, and characteristic performance features.  Methods & Discussion: The article explores the fundamental mechanisms of rapid disintegration, specifically the roles of wicking and swelling triggered by advanced superdisintegrants and co-processed excipients. We evaluate various manufacturing pathways— ranging from cost-effective direct compression and molding to specialized lyophilization and spray drying—highlighting how each technology influences the "fragility paradox" (the trade-off between high porosity and mechanical strength). Furthermore, we address the significant challenges of taste-masking bitter APIs and the stability issues associated with the hygroscopic nature of fast-dissolving matrices.  Conclusion & Future Directions: Evaluation parameters, including specialized wetting time and in vitro disintegration tests tailored for low-volume salivary conditions, are discussed. Finally, the review looks toward the future of RMTs, highlighting the role of 3D printing in personalized medicine and the integration of nanotechnology for enhancing the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs.

Keywords : Rapid Melting Tablets, Orally Disintegrating Tablets, Superdisintegrants, Dysphagia, Patient-Centric Design, 3D Printing.

References :

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Guidance for Industry: Orally Disintegrating Tablets. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER); 2008.
2. European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.). Monograph on Orodispersible Tablets. 11th ed. Strasbourg, France: Council of Europe; 2024.
3. World Health Organization. Annex 9: Guidance on the selection of comparator pharmaceutical products for equivalence assessment of interchangeable multisource (generic) products. WHO Technical Report Series; 2023.
4. Sharma A, Sen A, Rathore RPS. Fast Dissolving Tablets: A Pioneer Dosage Form and Recent Advances. Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics. 2026; 16(3):258-267.
5. Maheshwari S, Singh A, Varshney AP. Advancing oral drug delivery: The science of fast dissolving tablets (FDTs). Intelligent Pharmacy. 2024; 2(4):580-587.
6. Eze C, et al. Advances in Orally Disintegrating Tablets (ODTs): Formulation Strategies and Future Prospects. J Drug Deliv Ther. 2026; 16(3):134-145.
7. Deepthi KL, et al. A review on fast dissolving tablet: Mechanisms and excipient selection. World J Pharm Res. 2025; 14(10):29-40.
8. Gupta M, et al. Review on Fast Disintegrating Tablets: A New Era in Patient Compliance. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res. 2025; 88(1):112-118.
9. Kaur R, et al. Mechanisms of disintegration in rapid melting systems: Wicking vs. Swelling dynamics. Pharmaceutics Today. 2024; 12(2):45-58.
10. Desai P, et al. Physiological factors affecting the performance of ODTs in the oral cavity. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2024; 21(1):15-32.
11. Parveen A, Sharma S, Dhamija K. Fast Dissolving Tablets Using Natural Polymers: A Comprehensive Review on Formulation Strategies and Mechanisms. Int J Newgen Res Pharm. 2025; 3(1):246-259.
12. Patel K. Advances in Taste-Masking Strategies: Focus on Polymeric Coatings in Orally Disintegrating Tablets. Int J Sci Res Tech. 2025; 2(1):437-452.
13. Zade PS, et al. Co-processed excipients: The next generation of direct compression RMTs. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. 2024; 198:114-130.
14. Miller J, et al. Impact of Superdisintegrant concentration on the mechanical strength of rapid melting tablets. J Pharm Sci. 2024; 113(5):1201-1215.
15. Reddy SS, et al. Characterization of mannitol-based co-processed excipients for RMTs. Powder Technology. 2025; 412:118-129.
16. Awad HA, Fetouh MI, Maghraby GMEI. Fast-disintegrating tablets: a novel approach in pharmaceutical preparation and 3D printing applications. ERURJ. 2024; 3(2):1151-1172.
17. Kumar R, et al. 3D Printing Technology for Orodispersible Tablets: A New Direction in Personalized Medicine. Int J Innov Sci Res Tech. 2025; 10(10):142-155.
18. Smith B, et al. Lyophilization vs. Direct Compression: A comparative analysis of porosity in RMTs. Int J Pharm. 2024; 642:123-135.
19. Vora C, et al. Mass Extrusion technology for high-dose rapid melting systems. Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2025; 51(4):502-515.
20. Nguyen T, et al. Spray-dried erythritol as a functional carrier for rapid melting drug systems. Materials Science and Engineering: C. 2026; 145:112-126.
21. Gopalakrishnan S, et al. Evaluation of Electronic Tongue as a surrogate for human taste panels in ODT development. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. 2025; 390:133-145.
22. Hussain A, et al. Stability of Rapid Melting Tablets under accelerated conditions (40°C/75% RH): A six-month study. Pharma Res. 2026; 15(1):88-99.
23. Chen L, et al. Mathematical modeling of water absorption and disintegration kinetics in RMTs. J Control Release. 2024; 365:210-222.
24. Sato K, et al. In vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) of fast disintegrating tablets using novel dissolution apparatus. Biopharm Drug Dispos. 2025; 46(2):101-115.
25. Wang Y, et al. Mechanical properties and friability testing of fragile ODTs: New standardized methods. Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2025; 51(8):1024-1038.