A flexible-dose dispenser for immediate and extended release 3D printed tablets.
The advances in personalised medicine increased the demand for a fast, accurate and reliable production method of tablets that can be digitally controlled by healthcare staff. A flexible dose tablet system is presented in this study that proved to be suitable for immediate and extended release tablets with a realistic drug loading and an easy-to-swallow tablet design. The method bridges the affordable and digitally controlled Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) 3D printing with a standard pharmaceutical manufacturing process, Hot Melt Extrusion (HME). The reported method was compatible with three methacrylic polymers (Eudragit RL, RS and E) as well as a cellulose-based one (hydroxypropyl cellulose, HPC SSL). The use of a HME based pharmaceutical filament preserved the linear relationship between the mass and printed volume and was utilized to digitally control the dose via an input from computer software with dose accuracy in the range of 91-95%. Higher resolution printing quality doubled the printing time, but showed a little effect on in vitro release pattern of theophylline and weight accuracy. Physical characterization studies indicated that the majority of the model drug (theophylline) in the 3D printed tablet exists in a crystal form. Owing to the small size, ease of use and the highly adjustable nature of FDM 3D printers, the method holds promise for future individualised treatment.
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK; Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Pietrzak
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK.
Abdullah
A
Isreb
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK. Electronic address: MAlbedAlhnan@uclan.ac.uk.
Mohamed A
MA
Alhnan
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000295:instrumentation*; D065546:Drug Liberation; D004355:Drug Stability; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D057285:Precision Medicine; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011786:Quality Control; D013607:Tablets; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005079:Excipients; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D013607:Tablets; D002482:Cellulose; C008079:hydroxypropylcellulose; D013806:Theophylline
Additive manufacturing; FFF; Fused filament fabrication; Patient-specific; Personalised; Rapid prototyping; Three-dimensional printing