3D printing: An appealing route for customized drug delivery systems

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a significant technology in pharmaceuticals over the last decade.
• Its capability to create customized dosage forms aligns with the growing demand for personalized medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of 3D printing principles in pharmaceutical dosage form fabrication.
• To highlight the influence of printing parameters and design complexity on drug delivery characteristics.
• To summarize diverse applications of 3D printing in creating drug-loaded products.

Main Methods:

• Review of layer-by-layer fabrication techniques using various 3D printing technologies.
• Analysis of how printing parameters (infill, orientation, layer thickness, thermal processing) affect printed formulations.
• Compilation of studies detailing complex designs for modified product properties and drug release.

Main Results:

• 3D printing allows precise control over pharmaceutical dosage form design and drug release profiles.
• Various printing parameters significantly impact the physical and functional characteristics of the printed formulations.
• Complex structures like tablets, implants, microneedles, and scaffolds can be successfully fabricated.

Conclusions:

• 3D printing technology holds immense potential to revolutionize drug delivery systems through customization.
• Further research is recommended to facilitate the widespread adoption of 3D printing in the pharmaceutical industry.
• The technology promises tailored pharmaceutical formulations for enhanced patient outcomes.