Pediatric Formulations Developed by Extrusion-Based 3D Printing: From Past Discoveries to Future Prospects.

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Pediatric Medicine

Background:

• Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is transforming pharmaceutical development, offering cost-effective and rapid prototyping.
• Conventional manufacturing faces challenges in personalizing medications, especially for pediatric patients.
• There is a growing global demand for age-appropriate and adherence-promoting pediatric medicines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the advantages of extrusion-based 3D printing technology in pharmaceutical applications.
• To summarize recent advancements in pediatric pharmaceutical formulations developed using 3D printing.
• To explore the potential of 3DP in personalized medicine and controlled drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Focus on extrusion-based 3D printing techniques for pharmaceutical formulation.
• Review of literature on 3D printed pediatric drug products.
• Analysis of 3DP's capabilities in tailoring drug properties (shape, size, dosage, release profiles).

Main Results:

• 3DP allows for precise control over drug dosage, release kinetics, and multi-drug combinations.
• Extrusion-based 3D printing facilitates the creation of patient-specific medications.
• The technology supports rapid manufacturing and on-demand drug production in clinical settings.

Conclusions:

• 3D printing, particularly extrusion-based methods, presents significant benefits for pediatric drug development.
• This technology enables personalized medicine, improving treatment adherence and accessibility.
• 3DP is poised to revolutionize pharmaceutical manufacturing, offering tailored solutions for diverse patient needs.