Personalised paediatric chewable Ibuprofen tablets fabricated using 3D micro-extrusion printing technology

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Materials Science
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• Personalized pediatric dosage forms require improved palatability.
• Three-dimensional (3D) printing offers potential for customized drug delivery.
• Taste masking is crucial for pediatric medication adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate chewable pediatric ibuprofen (IBU) tablets using micro-extrusion 3D printing.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of various polymers for taste masking IBU.
• To assess the quality and drug distribution in the printed dosage forms.

Main Methods:

• Micro-extrusion based 3D printing was employed for tablet fabrication.
• A range of polymers were assessed for taste-masking capabilities.
• Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and confocal Raman mapping were used for characterization.
• Palatability was assessed by a panel of human testers.

Main Results:

• Micro-extrusion proved ideal for processing drug/polymer blends, ensuring drug-polymer miscibility and plasticization.
• Printed tablets exhibited high quality with consistent layer thickness and smooth surfaces.
• Differential scanning calorimetry confirmed ibuprofen formed a glass solution, and Raman mapping identified H-bonding interactions.
• Uniform drug distribution at the molecular level was achieved.
• Excellent taste masking of ibuprofen's bitter taste was reported by panellists.

Conclusions:

• Micro-extrusion 3D printing is a viable technology for producing personalized pediatric dosage forms.
• The process facilitates rapid development and fabrication of palatable chewable tablets.
• Drug-polymer interactions during printing enhance stability and taste-masking efficacy.