Controlled release of a marker drug, 4,4'-bis(2-sulfostyryl) biphenyl (DSBP) from genipin crosslinked gelatin thin films, with application to drug delivery by transdermal patches is studied in this paper. A simple method for fabrication of nano-thin films, using basic lab equipment is introduced. This method consists of two steps: dipping of the substrate in a deposition solution, followed by centrifugation of the substrate. Also, swelling and drug release from thin films is modeled, using the Fick's second law of diffusion. The effect of genipin concentration on release of DSBP molecules from thin films is investigated, experimentally and numerically. The results show that controlled release of DSBP from the genipin-crosslinked gelatin thin films is achieved, using various concentrations of genipin in gelatin.