International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)

Volume: 3 | Issue: 4 | May-Jun 2019 Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 - 6470

3D Printing Technology:
The Impetus Concept in the Drug Delivery
Hardeep Singh Bambra1, Mohd Mazhar2
1M.Pharm. (Quality Assurance), 2PhD, Research Scholar
1,2Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research, New Delhi, India

How to cite this paper: Hardeep Singh ABSTRACT

Bambra | Mohd Mazhar "3D Printing The 3D printing technique is a highly turbulent approach nowadays in
Technology: The Impetus Concept in the pharmaceutical technology. It is the continuous improvements towards the latest
Drug Delivery" Published in concept in the drug improvement to understand the better quality of the raw
International Journal of Trend in material as well as the production process. In the current era, it is the fastest
Scientific Research and Development growing technology. It is advantageous in different aspects like reducing the
(ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456- need of the prototyping, reduce the time & costs, helps in the easy modification
6470, Volume-3 | of the process. It is a versatile & powerful manufacturing tool. A 3D printing
Issue-4, June 2019, technique in the field of the biomedical field is known as the bio-printing.
pp.870-873, URL: Different techniques are used during the 3D- printing process which is as
https://www.ijtsrd.c follows- Binder deposition, Inkjet printing, Material jetting, Power bed fusion,
om/papers/ijtsrd23 photopolymerization, Power bed, etc. The need for 3D printing technology is due
959.pdf IJTSRD23959 to the technological advancement in therapy advancement. It also helps in the
development of the Novel Drug Delivery System (NDDS). It has been applied for
Copyright © 2019 by author(s) and the manufacturing of the pharmaceutical solid dosage form as well as the
International Journal of Trend in combination of the solid & liquid dosage form. It is mainly used to form
Scientific Research and Development personalized medicine which is the combination of the different pharmaceutical
Journal. This is an Open Access article ingredients which are used in the treatment of the different diseases. Nowadays
distributed under this technique has been followed up by the different pharmaceutical vendors so
the terms of the as to provide the patient's customized medicinal treatments day by day. This
Creative Commons technique has also been used to customized the release profile of the different
Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) drugs like to produce the sustain as well as extended release formulations. From
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ all the above data we concluded that 3D printing is the versatile technique which
by/4.0) is used to enhance the use of the combination therapy nowadays.

Keywords: 3D- 3 Dimensional, NDDS- New Drug Delivery System,

FDM- Fused Deposiion Modeling, DDD - Drug Delivery Devices,
AM- Additive Manufacturing, RP - Rapid Prototyping
Introduction
Nowadays, 3D- printing technology is a highly turbulent revolutionary concept in the current era. In the current era,
approach in the sector of pharmaceutical technology. The the 3D printing technique is the fastest developing
main asset of 3D- printing technology in the pharmaceutical technology, but the present development nowadays still
sector is to produce the customized dosage forms which needs to broaden the application. The fabrication of the 3D-
allied with the tailored dosages, shapes, sizes & due to its printing products was defined by ISO i.e., International
release characteristics. 3D- printing technique covers the Standard Organization. 3D- printing tablets have different
drug development process, preclinical development & advantages like-
clinical trials, through to crucial medical care. (Trenfield 1. Reduce the need for prototyping
et.al., 2018). 3D- printing technique is the continuous 2. Reduce Time & Costs
impetus towards the latest concept in drug design for better 3. Helps in easy modifications of the product
understanding of the raw materials properties used in the
production & during the various processes to assure the Moreover, the applications of the 3D printing tablets in the
better quality of dosage forms. Physiochemical & different departments like Science & Engineering enhanced
Biopharmaceutical characteristics of API’s (Active since 2012. The number of the scientific papers also
Pharmaceutical Ingredients) was considered & studied increased by the 27% since the last five years i.e., 2012 to
during each stage of product development (Tariq et.al 2017 from 59 to 1573, these hike shows the revolutionary
2019). By-product development, we are mainly focusing on use of the 3D- printing technology in the pharmaceutical
novel dosage forms & various technological processes. We product development. 3D- printing technique also have
observed that day by day the demand of the conventional achievement in the biomedical research field as well. The
medicines over the different diseases overcoming by the approach of the 3D- printing in the biomedical research field
demand of the customized personal medicines like different is known as bioprinting. The issue only related to this
layered 3D- printing tablets etc., which is the most approach is the regulatory related issue due to its

@ IJTSRD | Unique Paper ID – IJTSRD23959 | Volume – 3 | Issue – 4 | May-Jun 2019 Page: 870
 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
personalized dose variation from person to person. 3D- Techniques Used in the 3D- Printing pharmaceutical
printing technique is the versatile & powerful tool in the manufacturing:-
manufacturing of various devices. 3D- printing technique is There are different techniques of 3D- printing which we
the most favorable example of the additive manufacturing follow during the pharmaceutical products manufacturing
(AM) in which various layers are prepared separately from which is as follows:-
the 3D- model data & then the various materials are joined
layer by layer by the use of the joining material. (Jamroz W., 1. Binder Deposition
Szafraniec J., Kurek M., Jachowicz R., 2018). Nowadays, 2. Inkjet Printing
3D- printing technology gets matured enough for the ease of 3. Material Jetting
the peoples may apply online with the help of the open 4. Powder Bed Fusion
source software with relatively lower cost. The evolved form 5. Photo-polymerization
of the 3D-printing technology used in the broad range of 6. Pen-based 3D- printing & modeling
applications like tissue engineering, dentistry. Although after 7. Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM)
the above evolution in the pharmaceutical field this
technology is still at its infancy stage & its full potential has From all the above techniques FDM is one of the most
needed to be explored still. In the pharmaceutical field 3D- recently discovered & precise method for the manufacturing
printing technique overcome the different challenges which of the personalized pharmaceutical oral solid dosage form.
we are facing in the conventional dosage forms But on the other hand, the challenge we are facing in this
manufacturing like milling, mixing, granulation & technique is about the availability of the materials used in
compression which affects the grade of the finally developed this technique like thermoplastic polymers & not ideal for
dosage form & it’s different characteristic properties like optimizing the dosage amount for the poorly water-soluble
drug loading, drug release, drug stability, etc. (Horst J.D., et. drugs.
al., 2018).

Figure1.1. Schematic Diagram Representing different 3D- Printing Techniques used to fabricate Drug

In the current era, there are various pharmaceutical formulations available marketed developed by the use of different 3D-
Printing Technique. The list is given below:-

Sr. 3D-Printing Active Pharmaceutical

Dosage Form Polymer Author
No. Technique Used Ingredient
1. SLA Hydrogel Ibuprofen, Riboflavin Polyethylene Glycol, Diacrylate Martinez et. al

2. FDM Tablet Felodipine PEG, PEO, Eudragit, Tween 80 Alhijjaj et. al

3. FDM & SLA Nasal Spray Salicylic Acid FPLA, PCL Goyanes et. al

4. FDM Tablet Haloperidol - Solanki et. al.

5. FDM Nanocapsules Deflazacort PCL (Poly-ethyl- caprolactone) Beck et.al.

6. FDM Tablet Hydro-chloro-thiazide - Sadia et. al

7. FDM Tablet Nitro-furantoin Poly-lactic Acid, HPMC Boetkr et. al

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
Various Developed Pharmaceutical Formulations by the 3D- Printing Technique
Type of 3D process/technique Dosage form Active ingredient/polymer Author
ibuprofen, riboflavin,
Stereolithography (SLA) Hydrogel Martinez et al.
polyethylene glycol, diacrylate
felodipine, PEG, PEO, Tween
FDM 3D printing Tablet Alhijjaj et al.
80, Eudragit EPO
ropinirole, cross-linked
UV inkjet 3D printed Tablet poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) Clark et al.
(PEGDA)
semi-solid extrusion 3D printing
prednisolone, Hollander et
technique in combination with Tablet
polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) al.
UV- LED crosslinking
model of a nose adapted to the FPLA-salicylic acid and PCL-
(FDM) and (SLA) Goyanes et al.
morphology of an individual salicylic acid
FDM Tablet haloperidol Solanki et al.
Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) Printing Solid dosage forms Rasagiline mesylate Genina et al.
(FDM) and Hot Melt Extrusion domperidone, hydroxypropyl
Tablet Chai et al.
(HME) cellulose (HPC)
deflazacort, poly(ε-
FDM Nano-capsules Beck et al.
caprolactone) (PCL)
rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazi
FDM and HME Compartmentalized shells Genina et al.
(ISO)
FDM Tablet Hydrochlorothiazide Sadia et al.

Discussion to the manufacturing of drug products. The main challenge

The technological advancements in the pharmaceutical field to their exploitation for personalized pharmacologic therapy
are constantly improving and provide various possibilities is likely to be related to the regulatory issues involved and to
for meeting the needs of personalized drug therapy. The implementation of production models that may allow to
three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has endless efficiently turn the therapeutic needs of individual patients
potential in the fabrication of patient-specific drug delivery into small batches of appropriate drug products meeting
devices (DDD) and dosage forms as technological preset quality requirements. (Aprecia Pharmaceuticals,
development are progressing. Moreover, the rapidly 2015) Three-dimensional printing has become a useful and
evolving research on 3D printed DDD has enabled us to potential tool for the pharmaceutical sector, leading to
determine several challenges related to the manufacturing personalized medicine focused on the patients’ needs. It
and marketing of personalized drug delivery systems. The offers numerous advantages, such as increasing the cost
3D printing has enabled the fabrication of prototypes of DDD efficiency and the manufacturing speed, since rapid
with varying complexity and shows that customization of prototyping (RP) can be done in a matter of minutes.
drug products is possible. There is potential to improve However, there is still a significant barrier to ensure that 3D
patient-specific drug therapies of the future using printing printed medicines have the same efficacy, safety, and
technologies. The technological advancements, new scientific stability as the pharmaceuticals conventionally
concepts, interdisciplinary work, and defined regulatory manufactured by the Pharmaceutical Industry. Regarding the
guidelines will continue to support and strengthen the establishment of guidelines, laws, quality systems and safety
prospects of 3D printing as an option in the manufacture of of use and consumption of 3D printed medicines, it is a great
medical products. (Sandler N. et. al., 2016) Three- challenge for the regulatory authorities entailing great
dimensional printing (3DP) is a unique prototyping obstacles, given the traditional requirements by the
technology that has advanced over the past 35 years and has pharmaceutical sector. (Konta AA et. al., 2017) The use of
the great potential to revolutionize the field of drug delivery various types of printing technologies offer potential
with its inherent advantages of customizability and the solutions for personalized medicine and tailored dosage
ability to fabricate complex solid dosage forms with high forms to meet the needs of individual treatments of the
accuracy and precision. 3DP can fabricate solid dosage forms future. Many types of the scenario for printed dosage form
with variable densities and diffusivities, complex internal exist and the concepts include, on the simplest level,
geometries, multiple drugs, and excipients. 3DP can accurately deposited doses of drug substances. In addition,
successfully address the issues relating to the drug delivery computer design allows for endless opportunities to create
of poorly water-soluble drugs, peptides, potent drugs and suitable geometries with tailored functionality and different
the release of multi-drugs, etc. However, there are some levels of complexity to control the release properties of one
problems that restrict the applications of 3DP in the or multiple drug substances. It will take some time to
commercial market, such as the selections of suitable convert these technological developments in printing to
binders, excipients and the pharmaco-technical properties of better treatments for patients because challenges exist.
final products. Further advancement in process performance However, printing technologies are developing fast and have
is required to overcome these issues where 3DP technology the potential to allow the use of versatile materials to
can be successfully combined with a novel drug delivery manufacture sophisticated drug-delivery systems and
system (NDDS). (Moulton SE et.al., 2014) 3D printing biofunctional constructs for personalized treatments. (Beck
encompasses a range of different techniques, each involving RCR et. al., 2017) 3D printing technology can handle complex
advantages and open issues. Particularly, solidification of internal structure such as internal walls, hollow channels,
powder, extrusion, and stereolithography have been applied porosity, multiple material regions, and multiple drug

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
distributions. This is a feature traditional pharmaceutical regulate drug release from pharmaceutical solid
manufacturing processes do not share, which ensures the dispersions prepared via fused deposition modeling
feasibility of realizing rapid release, sustained release, (FDM) 3D printing. Eur J of Pharm and Biopharm 108:
controlled release, multiple drug delivery systems and 111- 125.
personalized medicine based on structure design. (Boetkar J. [7] Beck RCR, Chaves PS, Goyanes A, Vucosavljevic B,
et. al., 2016) Buanz A, et al. (2017) 3D printed tablets loaded with
polymeric nanocapsules: An innovative approach to
Conclusion
It is evidenced that through its versatility, speed of produce customized drug delivery systems. Int J of
production and precision, the use of three-dimensional Pharmaceutics 528(1-2): 268-279.
printing for the elaboration and distribution of controlled [8] Boetker J, Water JJ, Aho J, Arnfast L, Bohr A, et al.
drugs plays a key role in the current pharmaceutical (2016) Modifying release characteristics from 3D
industry, considering that drugs can be designed according printed drug-eluting products. Eur J of Pharm Sci 90:
to the patient’s need. The fused deposition modeling (FDM) 47-52.
technique and hot melt extrusion (HME) of filaments for 3DP [9] Sandler N, Preis M (2016) Printed Drug-Delivery
still excels in relation to the other printing techniques, such Systems for Improved Patient Treatment. Trends
as binder deposition, inkjet printing, material jetting, powder Pharmacol Sci 37(12): 1070-1080.
bed fusion, photopolymerization, pen-based 3D, printing and [10] Goyanes A, Det-Amornrat U, Wang J, Basit AW, Gaisford
molding have been gaining more and more space. The use of S (2016) 3D scanning and 3D printing as innovative
3DP in pharmaceutical formulation development is an technologies for fabricating personalized topical drug
effective strategy to overcome challenges of conventional delivery systems. J of Cont Rel 234(28): 41-48.
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Acknowledgment [13] Sadia M, Arafat B, Ahmed W, Forbes RT, Ahlnan MA
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