Effect of geometry on drug release from 3D printed tablets.
The aim of this work was to explore the feasibility of combining hot melt extrusion (HME) with 3D printing (3DP) technology, with a view to producing different shaped tablets which would be otherwise difficult to produce using traditional methods. A filament extruder was used to obtain approx. 4% paracetamol loaded filaments of polyvinyl alcohol with characteristics suitable for use in fused-deposition modelling 3DP. Five different tablet geometries were successfully 3D-printed-cube, pyramid, cylinder, sphere and torus. The printing process did not affect the stability of the drug. Drug release from the tablets was not dependent on the surface area but instead on surface area to volume ratio, indicating the influence that geometrical shape has on drug release. An erosion-mediated process controlled drug release. This work has demonstrated the potential of 3DP to manufacture tablet shapes of different geometries, many of which would be challenging to manufacture by powder compaction.
UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK.
Alvaro
A
Goyanes
UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK.
Pamela
P
Robles Martinez
UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK.
Asma
A
Buanz
UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK; FabRx Ltd., 3 Romney Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 0RW, UK.
Abdul W
AW
Basit
UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK; FabRx Ltd., 3 Romney Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 0RW, UK. Electronic address: s.gaisford@ucl.ac.uk.
Simon
S
Gaisford
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D065546:Drug Liberation; D004355:Drug Stability; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000295:instrumentation*
D000082:Acetaminophen; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol
3D printing; Controlled-release; Fused deposition modeling; Hot melt extrusion; PVA; paracetamol