3D Printing in Pharma: Transforming Drug Manufacturing and Delivery
Seema Rohilla, Vipasha Sharma, Sunil Jawla, Ankur RohillaIntroduction:
The emergence of 3D printing has significantly influenced the medical field by facilitating the manufacturing of complex, tailored formulations at an economic cost. In recent years, various drug delivery systems including implants, tablets, capsules, microneedles, dispersible films, and vulvar and transdermal devices, as well as micro- and nanoscale dosage forms, have gained considerable attention from research institutions. This technology uses CAD (Computer- Aided Design) or digital models to construct 3D products, providing precise and efficient solutions for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Methods:
Literature has been searched from PubMed, Sci-Hub, and books, etc. Studies included papers published in English that addressed 3D printing, including its methods of preparation, applications, and/or associated challenges, as well as original research articles, reviews, or conference papers.
Result:
Polymer 3D printing is an automated procedure that constructs three-dimensional objects by depositing consecutive layers of polymer-based material. This process employs several techniques, including Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), inkjet-based printing, extrusion- based printing, and bioprinting. This article examined the roles of polymers and 3D printing techniques in creating diverse systems for drug delivery.
Discussion:
3D printing has fundamentally redefined pharmaceutical manufacturing by altering conventional dosage forms into patient-centric drug delivery systems. This method offers numerous benefits, such as the capacity to fabricate intricate geometries, customize and personalize products, decrease material waste, and accelerate prototyping, making it a transformative technology in modern manufacturing. Advancements in multi-material and 4D printing technologies provide auspicious avenues for energetic and stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems.
Conclusion:
It concluded that 3D printing has transformed traditional manufacturing methods, provided innovative solutions such as personalized medicine, and improved the delivery of drugs to the desired location. The technology holds significant potential for further advancements across various fields.