www.wjpr.net Vol 4, Issue 09, 2015. 257 Reyad et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF ORAL THIN FILM OF ETORICOXIB Md. Reyad-ul-ferdous 1,2,3 *, DM. Shamim Shahjahan 3 , Md. Munirul Islam Tanvir 4 , Shamsunnahar Sumi 2 , Mohammad Nazmul Alam 2 , Md. Irfan Amin Chowdury 2 , Muhammad Moin Uddin Mazumdar 2 , Sudipta Chowdhury 2 , S.M.Arif Bin Alam 2 1 Department of Pharmacy, Progati Medical Institute, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh. 2 Department of Pharmacy, North South University, Dhaka-1229, Bangladesh 3 Department of Pharmacy, State University of Bangladesh, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh 4 Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, 154/A, College Road, Chittagong-4203, Bangladesh. ABSTRACT The aim of the present investigation was to develop oral thin films of etoricoxib, an analgesic agent and to investigate the effect of the formulation variables like concentration of film forming polymer, emulsifying agent and plasticizer on the physico chemical properties and in vitro dissolution studies. Hydroxylpropyl methylcellulose was used as a film former, Tween 80 as an emulsifying agent and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 as a plasticizer. These three variables were studied at two levels thus, a 2 3 full factorial design was applied and six different formulations were developed by solvent casting method and evaluated. The role of HPMC in deciding the film properties was significant. It affected thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, surface PH, swelling propertics, disintegration time and in vitro dissolution rate significantly. PEG 6000 also found to play a role in deciding the properties of films. The film that contained HPMC (15 mg /film i.e. 2x3 cm 2 ) in low levels and Tween 80 (30 mg/film i.e. 2x3 cm 2 ) and PEG 6000 (8 mg/film i.e. 2x3 cm 2 ) in high levels was found to be suitable for film formation with desirable physicochemical properties, faster disintegration and optimum in vitro release. KEYWORDS: Etoricoxib, oral films, solvent casting method, formulation variables. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research SJIF Impact Factor 5.990 Volume 4, Issue 9, 257-272. Research Article ISSN 2277– 7105 Article Received on 06 July 2015, Revised on 27 July 2015, Accepted on 18 Aug 2015 *Correspondence for Author Md. Reyad-ul-ferdous Department of Pharmacy, Progati Medical Institute, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh.