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Fresh 3D Printing of Spanlastics Hydrogel for Drug Delivery Applications In Vitro
Elom Doe1, Abigail Alabi2, Leela Raghava Jaidev Chakka1
1Pharmaceutical Engineering and 3D Printing Lab (PharmE3D), Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, 1 University Avenue, University, MS, 38677, USA.
Pharmaceutical Research
|March 6, 2026
Summary
This study developed a localized chemotherapy depot using doxorubicin-loaded spanlastic vesicles within 3D printed alginate. The implants demonstrated sustained drug release and reduced cancer cell viability, showing potential for localized cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Cancer Therapy
Background:
- Localized chemotherapy delivery aims to maximize drug concentration at the tumor site while minimizing systemic toxicity.
- Spanlastic vesicles offer a promising platform for encapsulating and delivering therapeutic agents.
- 3D printing technologies, like Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH), enable precise fabrication of complex drug delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a localized doxorubicin delivery implant by integrating doxorubicin-loaded spanlastic vesicles within FRESH-printed alginate constructs.
- To create a sustained-release formulation for doxorubicin using a combination of spanlastic vesicles and 3D-printed hydrogels.
- To evaluate the in vitro efficacy of the developed implant in terms of drug release, cellular uptake, and cytotoxicity.
Main Methods:
- Spanlastic vesicles were prepared using Sorbitan Monostearate (Span60) and Polyethylene sorbitol ester (Tween 80).
- Doxorubicin-loaded spanlastics were characterized and incorporated into sodium alginate hydrogels using the FRESH bioprinting technique.
- Drug release kinetics were assessed using a dialysis membrane, and in vitro uptake and cytotoxicity were evaluated in MCF7 breast cancer cells.
Main Results:
- Optimized spanlastic vesicles (200-300 nm) exhibited moderate encapsulation efficiency (33-44%) and stability.
- The 3D-printed alginate depots demonstrated sustained doxorubicin release compared to suspension.
- The implant effectively reduced MCF7 cell viability, with doxorubicin showing preferential intracellular and nuclear localization.
Conclusions:
- Spanlastic-loaded FRESH-printed alginate implants successfully combine vesicle-mediated delivery with sustained release from a 3D-printed matrix.
- These implants show potential as effective localized chemotherapy depots for cancer treatment.
- Further in vivo studies are warranted to validate the therapeutic efficacy of this novel drug delivery system.
