A Refined Hot Melt Printing Technique with Real-Time CT Imaging Capability

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Personalized drug delivery systems aim for tailored dosages and controlled release profiles.
• Current systems often suffer from burst drug release and side effects due to poor encapsulation.
• Integrating real-time imaging capabilities enhances diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a 3D-printed drug delivery matrix with integrated real-time imaging.
• To achieve optimal encapsulation of a drug and a contrasting agent.
• To investigate the influence of additives on the matrix's surface morphology.

Main Methods:

• Utilized hot melt extrusion (HME) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) for 3D printing.
• Encapsulated tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (IONP) within a polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix.
• Investigated the effect of additives on micropore formation (10-20 µm) on the printed surface.

Main Results:

• Successfully encapsulated both tetracycline hydrochloride and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles.
• Demonstrated the formation of micropores on the 3D-printed surface.
• Achieved a high-resolution printing process for complex structures.

Conclusions:

• The engineered 3D-printed matrix shows promise for advanced drug delivery systems.
• The system enables real-time imaging for monitoring drug-device interaction.
• Potential applications include personalized medicine, medical imaging, and targeted therapy.