Pharmaceutical printing is a process whereby a substance is used to produce objects or products. It has many different applications, such as the production of pharmaceutical products. Among other things, it allows for personalized and multi-drug dosage forms. There are several types of printers that are available to perform this task. These include the FDM, SLA, and thermal inkjet.
FDM
Using 3D printing technology, it is possible to create customized oral drug delivery devices that are safe and effective. These devices may include medicinal mouth guards and tablets. Some of these drugs are soluble in water, while others are not. A 3D FDM printer can be used to manufacture these devices.
Several research groups have explored the use of 3D printing in pharmaceutical applications. These include the Poly Print project funded by the German federal ministry of education and the Institute of Pharmaceutics and Bio pharmaceutics at the Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf.
The Poly Print project focuses on developing new polymers and 3D printers for producing complex objects. Its main goal is to produce cGMP compliant, high-quality 3D printed medicines.
The Poly Print project is a collaboration of several pharma industry players. The consortium includes Merck KGaA, Gen-Plus, and the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems at the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne.
SLA
Stereolithography (SLA) is one of the most effective types of 3D printing technology. It produces high resolution and sharpest details. This technology has proven to be useful in pharmaceutical manufacturing. SLA is a technique that uses a liquid resin to build structures. Unlike other forms of 3D printing, it operates at room temperature.
SLA can be used to create personalised medicines. For example, it can be used to create tablets that have a patient's unique characteristics. In addition, it may be beneficial for patients on complicated dosing regimens. The technology can also be used to create patient-tailored printlets.
With the rise of 3D printing technologies, the pharmaceutics industry is turning to new approaches. This includes the use of SLA to produce bespoke hydrogels, as well as polypills.
Thermal inkjet
Thermal inkjet for pharmaceutical printing is one of the most widely used printer technologies. It is a non-contact deposition technique, which can be applied to various materials, such as glass, plastic, metal, and paper. The process is characterized by a rapid rise in temperature that causes nucleation.
Thermal inkjet for pharmaceutical printing has been employed in the development of cell-laden bioinks. These inks have found a strong ground in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
The use of thermal inkjet for pharmaceutical printing was also explored in the development of oral films. Paracetamol ODFs were produced using HPMC as ink component. Ink viscosities were high enough to enable a quick drying time. A polymer coating was then used to improve the film's mechanical properties.
Bio Printing
Bio printing is a process of building three-dimensional structures with cells using an ink. It can be used to create medical devices or even artificial organs.
These models are used for research purposes and for performing operations such as surgeries. They are cheaper and more effective than the traditional techniques.
With the advent of 3D bio printing technology, a new world of medicines is opening up. These technologies allow for the production of drugs that are customized for each patient. This is because each body has a different response to medications. Therefore, it is necessary to develop complex manufacturing methods.
The latest innovations in bio fabrication have also shown potential in improving the preclinical drug development stages. As the demand for drugs and therapeutics increase, it is imperative to develop them rapidly.
Personalized, Multi-Drug 3d Printed Dosage Forms for Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients
Breast cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancer, and one of the most deadly. It is estimated that 7.8 million women will be living with the disease in 2020. Currently, a mastectomy is the most common surgery for breast cancer. While the procedure is considered acceptable, patients can suffer substantial psychological sequelae.
In addition to the cosmetic and emotional problems, mastectomy causes significant distortion of the patient's body image. Moreover, re-excision for positive margins can increase the risk of complications during surgery. Using a 3D-printed model could allow surgeons to more accurately plan the surgical procedures.
A new study has shown promising results for treating early-stage breast cancer patients. Researchers from the University of Girona, Spain, used a Sigma 3D printer to create a series of tiny three-dimensional matrices of human tissues. They then tested various parameters, including the Dice similarity coefficient, to determine how similar the structures were.