Public perspectives on 3D printed medications: Insight for formulation design and regulatory development

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is emerging as an innovative platform for the production of personalized pharmaceutical dosage forms. As this technology progresses toward clinical and industrial adoption, understanding public expectations is essential to ensure the development of acceptable, safe, and user-centered drug products. This study aimed to investigate public awareness, preferences, and trust factors related to 3D printed medications, and to identify key predictors of acceptance to inform pharmaceutical formulation strategies and regulatory development for patient-centered drug products. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Saudi Arabia among 1,299 participants. The sample included a range of age groups (18 to 54+) and educational backgrounds such as health, engineering, and humanities. The survey assessed participants' awareness of 3D printing in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, perceived benefits and risks, willingness to use 3D printed medications, and preferences regarding design features such as dose customization, colour, shape, and time-of-administration indicators. While 73 % of respondents were aware of 3D printing in healthcare, only 41.7 % recognized its role in medicine production. Personalized dosing, polypill functionality (such as combining multiple medications into a single tablet) and regulatory approval (such as approval by the FDA or SFDA) were the most anticipated benefits, while regulatory approval and scientific validation were the strongest predictors of acceptance (p > 0.001). Participants prioritized usability features including child- and elderly-friendly forms, visual differentiation, and time-indicator markings. Potential self-selection bias and the use of online distribution may have influenced the representativeness of the sample. These findings provide valuable guidance for formulation scientists and regulatory stakeholders developing patient-centered 3D printed dosage forms. Integrating user preferences into product design may improve medication adherence, enhance therapeutic acceptability, and support the successful translation of 3D printing technologies into pharmaceutical manufacturing and clinical practice.