QR encoded smart oral dosage forms by inkjet printing

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Personalized medicine requires flexible manufacturing of patient-tailored drug doses.
• Inkjet printing (IJP) offers potential for precise drug delivery system fabrication.
• Integrating patient-specific information into dosage forms is a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of using IJP for producing edible dosage forms patterned as QR codes.
• To embed active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and patient-relevant data within these edible QR codes.
• To evaluate the quality, stability, and readability of the printed dosage forms.

Main Methods:

• Development of an API-containing ink suitable for IJP.
• Printing of QR code patterns containing the drug onto a novel porous, flexible substrate.
• Assessment of the mechanical properties of the substrate post-printing.
• Analysis of drug content accuracy and print definition.
• Testing the readability of the QR codes by smartphone after storage under various conditions.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of edible dosage forms in QR code patterns using IJP.
• The printing process did not compromise the substrate's mechanical integrity.
• Accurate drug content in the printed dosage forms, matching the encoded information.
• High print definition with minimal edge bleeding observed.
• QR codes remained readable by smartphones even after exposure to harsh storage conditions.

Conclusions:

• IJP is a viable technology for producing innovative, data-rich edible drug dosage forms.
• The developed QR code dosage forms offer efficient data incorporation and storage capabilities.
• This approach holds promise for developing safer, more patient-centric pharmaceutical products through integration with smart devices.