Customizable Three-Dimensional Printed Earring Tap for Treating Affections Caused by Aesthetic Perforations.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Aesthetic perforations can lead to complications requiring targeted topical treatments.
• Wearable drug delivery systems offer patient-centered administration and improved compliance.
• 3D printing technology enables customized and complex device fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize 3D printed wearable earring taps for topical drug delivery.
• To incorporate the anti-inflammatory drug naringenin into the 3D printed devices.
• To evaluate the in vitro skin permeation and drug release profiles of the developed earring taps.

Main Methods:

• Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing with optimized polymer filaments.
• Centroid mixture design for filament composition optimization.
• Physicochemical characterization, rheological analysis, and in vitro skin permeation studies using porcine ear skin.

Main Results:

• Two filament compositions were optimized for accelerated and slow naringenin release.
• 3D printed earring taps showed good physicochemical properties and facilitated naringenin skin penetration.
• Devices enhanced drug recovery in superficial or inner skin layers and reduced overall transdermal delivery compared to free drug.

Conclusions:

• 3D printed wearable earring taps are a promising system for topical drug delivery.
• This technology supports patient-centered drug administration for conditions associated with aesthetic perforations.
• The study demonstrates the feasibility of using 3D printing for advanced wearable pharmaceutical devices.