Volume 476, Issues 1–2, 10 December 2014, Pages 88–92

Alvaro Goyanesa, Asma B.M. Buanza, Abdul W. Basita, b, Simon Gaisforda, b, , 

a UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1 N 1AX, UK

b FabRx Ltd., 3 Romney Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 0RW, UK

 

Abstract

The use of fused-filament 3D printing (FF 3DP) to fabricate individual tablets is demonstrated. The technology permits the manufacture of tablets containing drug doses tailored to individual patients, or to fabrication of tablets with specific drug-release profiles. Commercially produced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) filament was loaded with a model drug (fluorescein) by swelling of the polymer in ethanolic drug solution. A final drug-loading of 0.29% w/w was achieved. Tablets of PVA/fluorescein (10 mm diameter) were printed using a 3D printer. It was found that changing the degree of infill percentage in the printer software varied the weight and volume of the printed tablets. The tablets were mechanically strong and no significant thermal degradation of the active occurred during printing. Dissolution tests were conducted in modified Hank’s buffer. The results showed release profiles were dependent on the infill percentage used to print the tablet. The study indicates that FF 3DP has the potential to offer a new solution for fabricating personalized-dose medicines or unit dosage forms with controlled-release profiles. In addition, the low cost of FDM printers means the paradigm of extemporaneous or point-of-use manufacture of personalized-dose tablets is both feasible and attainable.

 

Keywords

3D printing; Controlled-release; Fused filament printing; PVA; Fluorescein

 

Full text is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517314006991