3D printing personalized orally disintegrating tablets with complex structures for the treatment of special...

Individuals with special needs, such as children, the elderly, and the visually impaired, encounter significant hurdles in the field of personalized pharmacotherapy due to their distinctive medication needs. 3D printing technology, a novel approach for preparing drug products with intricate personalized designs, has shown considerable promise in improving the safety and adherence to patient medication regimens. This study chose acetaminophen, a commonly employed antipyretic analgesic, as the model drug and employed binder jetting 3D printing (BJ-3DP) to manufacture oral disintegrating tablets (ODTs) with multiple specifications and complex structures. The study initiated with an assessment of the printable properties of powder and ink formulations, proceeding to craft ODTs with individualized dosages and surfaces embedded in QR codes, cartoon figures, textual information, and raised braille. These tablets are internally designed with spaces that do not eject ink, resulting in a loose powder structure. The results of tests including porosity, surface roughness, Micro CT scanning, mechanical properties, and in vitro drug release of the printed product indicate that the personalized ODTs with complex structures designed in this study can offer treatment solutions for specific populations.