In pharmaceutical drug delivery of solid oral dosage forms film coatings are frequently applied. The motivation for coating dosage forms range from cosmetic considerations (colour, gloss), improving the stability (light protection, moisture and gas barrier) and making it easier to swallow the tablet. In addition, functional coatings can be used to modify the drug release behaviour from the dosage form. Depending on the polymers used it is possible either delay the release of the drug (such as in enteric coatings) or use the coating to sustain the release of the drug from the dosage form over extended periods of time. A film coating is a thin polymer-based coat applied to a solid  dosage form such as a tablet. The thickness of such a coating is usually between 20-100 µm. It is possible to follow the dynamic curing effect on tablet coating structure by using non-destructive analytical methodologies.Gendre C., Genty M., César da Silva J., Tfayli A., Boiret M., Lecoq O., Baron M., Chaminade P., Péan J-M., Comprehensive study of dynamic curing effect on tablet coating structure, Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm., 81 (2012), 657-665 Film coating formulations usually  contain the following components: Polymer Plasticizer Colourant Opacifier Solvent Vehicle Functionality wise it is further divided into: Immediate release coating Sustained release or modified release coating Enteric release coating
 A film coating is a thin polymer-based coat applied to a solid pharmaceutical dosage form such as a tablet. The thickness of such a coating is typically between 20-100 µm. It is possible to follow the dynamic curing effect on tablet coating structure by using non-destructive analytical methodologies.Gendre C., Genty M., César da Silva J., Tfayli A., Boiret M., Lecoq O., Baron M., Chaminade P., Péan J-M., Comprehensive study of dynamic curing effect on tablet coating structure, Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm., 81 (2012), 657-665 Film coatings are frequently applied in orally-administered pharmaceuticals. The motivation for applying film coatings to dosage forms range from cosmetic considerations such as colour, gloss and branding, improving the shelf life by providing a protective barrier between the drug and the surrounding environment, and making the dosage form easier to swallow. They may also be used to delay or augment the delivery and uptake of medications, such as in modified- or sustained-release dosage, or delay release and uptake until the medication passes through the stomach, as in enteric coatings. Film coating formulations typically contain the following components: Polymer Plasticizer Colourant Opacifier Solvent Vehicle 
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In pharmaceutical drug delivery of solid oral dosage forms film coatings are frequently applied. The motivation for coating dosage forms range from cosmetic considerations (colour, gloss), improving the stability (light protection, moisture and gas barrier) and making it easier to swallow the tablet. In addition, functional coatings can be used to modify the drug release behaviour from the dosage form. Depending on the polymers used it is possible either delay the release of the drug (such as in enteric coatings) or use the coating to sustain the release of the drug from the dosage form over extended periods of time.
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pharmaceutical
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usually
typically
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coating formulations usually
coatings are frequently applied in orally-administered pharmaceuticals. The motivation for applying film coatings to dosage forms range from cosmetic considerations such as colour, gloss and branding, improving the shelf life by providing a protective barrier between the drug and the surrounding environment, and making the dosage form easier to swallow. They may also be used to delay or augment the delivery and uptake of medications, such as in modified- or sustained-release dosage, or delay release and uptake until the medication passes through the stomach, as in enteric coatings.
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Film coating formulations typically
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Functionality wise it is further divided into:
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Immediate release coating Sustained release or modified release coating Enteric release coating