Tailoring controlled-release oral dosage forms by combining inkjet and flexographic printing techniques.
We combined conventional inkjet printing technology with flexographic printing to fabricate drug delivery systems with accurate doses and tailored drug release. Riboflavin sodium phosphate (RSP) and propranolol hydrochloride (PH) were used as water-soluble model drugs. Three different paper substrates: A (uncoated woodfree paper), B (triple-coated inkjet paper) and C (double-coated sheet fed offset paper) were used as porous model carriers for drug delivery. Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) containing solutions were printed onto 1 cm × 1 cm substrate areas using an inkjet printer. The printed APIs were coated with water insoluble polymeric films of different thickness using flexographic printing. All substrates were characterized with respect to wettability, surface roughness, air permeability, and cell toxicity. In addition, content uniformity and release profiles of the produced solid dosage forms before and after coating were studied. The substrates were nontoxic for the human cell line assayed. Substrate B was smoothest and least porous. The properties of substrates B and C were similar, whereas those of substrate A differed significantly from those of B, C. The release kinetics of both printed APIs was slowest from substrate B before and after coating with the water insoluble polymer film, following by substrate C, whereas substrate A showed the fastest release. The release rate decreased with increasing polymer coating film thickness. The printed solid dosage forms showed excellent content uniformity. So, combining the two printing technologies allowed fabricating controlled-release oral dosage forms that are challenging to produce using a single technique. The approach opens up new perspectives in the manufacture of flexible doses and tailored drug-delivery systems.
Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Abo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6A, FI-20520 Turku, Finland. natalja.genina@abo.fi
Natalja
N
Genina
Daniela
D
Fors
Hossein
H
Vakili
Petri
P
Ihalainen
Leena
L
Pohjala
Henrik
H
Ehlers
Ivan
I
Kassamakov
Edward
E
Haeggström
Pia
P
Vuorela
Jouko
J
Peltonen
Niklas
N
Sandler
D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D010209:Paper; D011327:Printing / Q000379:methods*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014783:Viscosity
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011433:Propranolol; D012256:Riboflavin