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3D printed dispersible efavirenz tablets: A strategy for nasogastric administration in children

Nadine Lysyk Funk1, Patricija Januskaite2, Ruy Carlos Ruver Beck3

  • 1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Laboratório de Nanocarreadores e Impressão 3D em Tecnologia Farmacêutica (Nano3D), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Department of Pharmaceutics, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics
|June 4, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Researchers developed 3D printed dispersible efavirenz (EFZ) printlets for children with HIV using enteral feeding tubes (EFTs). This innovative approach addresses challenges in medication delivery for pediatric HIV patients requiring nutritional support.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmaceutical Technology
  • 3D Printing Applications
  • Pediatric HIV Treatment

Background:

  • Enteral feeding tubes (EFTs) are crucial for nutritional support and medication delivery in children with HIV.
  • Challenges with EFTs include off-label drug use, inaccurate dosing, and tube clogging.
  • There is a need for improved drug delivery systems for pediatric HIV patients using EFTs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and characterize dispersible efavirenz (EFZ) printlets using selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing.
  • To evaluate the printlets for administration via EFTs in pediatric HIV patients.
  • To explore novel drug delivery strategies for improved medication management in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing was employed to create EFZ printlets.
  • Water-soluble polymers (Parteck® MXP and Kollidon® VA64) were used to formulate printlets.
  • Printlets were characterized for drug content, amorphization, and disintegration time.

Main Results:

  • Porous EFZ printlets with high drug content (20-40% w/w) and amorphization were successfully fabricated using SLS 3D printing.
  • Printlets formulated with Parteck® MXP and Kollidon® VA64 (500mg and 1000mg) demonstrated disintegration within 230 seconds in water.
  • Partial disintegration of K1000 printlets suggests potential polymer saturation issues.

Conclusions:

  • SLS 3D printing offers a viable method for producing dispersible EFZ printlets for pediatric HIV patients using EFTs.
  • Hydrophilic polymers can be effectively utilized in SLS 3D printing for this application.
  • Further research into rapidly disintegrating polymers and excipients is warranted for optimizing SLS 3D printed dosage forms for EFT administration.

Keywords:
Additive manufacturing of oral drug productsEnteral route administration of medicinesNasogastric tubes and ostomiesPediatrics and acceptabilityPowder bed fusion 3D printing pharmaceuticalsPrinted formulations and drug delivery systems

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