3D printing technology, synonymously termed additive manufacturing technology, is a newer and novel technology, nowadays used to manufacture personalized 3D-printed drugs using advanced computer software. In recent years, the use of 3DP technology in the pharmaceutical sciences has turned out to be sophisticated with the advent of new methods. Compared with conventional drug formulation preparation processes, 3DP technology has significant benefits in personalized drug development & manufacturing, easy preparation of some difficult molecules, efficient drug release patterns, and also, fast manufacturing.  

For example, Spritam was the first 3D-printed product which received investigational new drug (IND) approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2015. 

3D Printing: Transforming Personalized Drug Delivery

No doubt, 3DP technology besides being involved in the tremendous growth of various industries has had a remarkable impact on the pharmaceutical industries in terms of ease, personalized/customized and fast-to-ready dosage forms. The precision in the dose and tailoring design according to the needs of the patient i.e., customized dosage forms became possible only with the inclusion of computer-aided design (CAD) software/models. The 3DP dosage forms also have better release and reduced side effects apart from being more efficacious than the conventional dosage forms. The 3DP drug products with the multi-drug combinations too have been designed to deliver the drug moieties better than the conventional multi-drug dosage forms. 

Furthermore, 3DP products being personalised/customised drug delivery systems have full flexibility in terms of patient-specific factors, such as age, weight, and medical history, into drug design, which consequently improves patient compliance. 

Also, with more advancement, we are hopeful for better precision and accuracy in the production of 3DP pharmaceuticals.  

Advantages of 3D Printing Technology In Pharmaceuticals 

Personalised Medicine for Special Populations 

As we have two categories of patients who are having special care, i.e., children and elderly, where we have to take utmost care while designing a dosage form, because the children are in a state of continuous growth and development, while the elderly have regular absorption and metabolism issues and pre-occurrence of numerous diseases. So, the 3DP drug products are best suited in these two categories, as dosages are standardized and tablet dosage forms having various shapes, and sizes can be designed and manufactured.  

Precise Control of Drug Release 

Among solid oral dosage forms, tablets account for almost 75%, so the 3DP technology has been exploited to design dosage forms with better drug release characteristics. As compared to traditional tablets, the controlled-release preparations allow for the controlled release of the drug, thereby reducing side effects and improving overall efficacy. The best example is Triastek’s 3DP product, for which IND approval from the FDA was obtained in January 2021. It is a controlled-release product for the circadian rhythm of rheumatoid arthritis. This is taken at bedtime and blood concentration reaches its peaks in the morning when the pain and joint stiffness is severe in the patient and also sustains optimal blood concentration during the daytime. 

BJ-3DP Technology 

This is the first and the most used 3D printing technology in the production of pharmaceuticals. A thin powder layer (mix up of Excipients and API) is spread on the platform with the help of rollers, then droplets are sprayed through the removable printhead, which helps to selectively bind the powder together. After this,  the platform is lowered, and a new layer of powder is spread, the droplets are added continuously. the same process is repeated till the final product is obtained, the remaining powder fractions are removed and further processing is done. 

FDM Technology 

FDM technology uses computer-aided design software. 3D-printed products are prepared simply layer by layer depositing molten material on printing platforms. The polymer filament containing the drug is extruded by two rollers through a high-temperature nozzle, and the print head moves in the x-axis & y-axis direction under the control of computer software to print the product.  So, once one layer is completed, the printing platform drops or the z-axis rises, to one layer thickness to start the next layer of the printing process, and repeats the process until completion.  

Preparing KRMU Pharmacy Students for 3D-Printed Drug Innovations

Globally, 3D-printed drug products in the market are estimated to grow by 20% during the next decade and the industry business share will be around whooping 2 billion USD each year. So, the pharmacy students, who are budding pharmacists besides having better know-how on this novel technology, will also have huge employability avenues in such personalised/customised drug delivery systems.  

So, the students pursuing pharmacy courses at K. R. Mangalam University are being taught and trained for such opportunities in novel drug delivery systems as part of both academics and employability, as per Sustainable Development Goals (SDG: 3, 4 & 8). 

In this concern, we invite experts from the industry and academia, conduct workshops, deliver lectures and also, go in collaboration with reputed institutes through MOUs to exchange novel ideas. We also take pharmacy students to pharmaceutical industries to sharpen their practical knowledge pertaining to these concepts etc. 

Conclusion 

3D printing (3DP) is a transformative technology to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry. This technology holds the potential to shift from traditional production methods to creating personalized dosage forms on demand. The advent of 3D printing (3DP) in pharmaceuticals sets a new benchmark for tailored formulations, offering significant benefits for both clinical studies and personalized medicine. This innovative approach allows for the precise fabrication of dosage forms tailored to individual patient needs, which is particularly advantageous in clinical trials where customized dosages and rapid prototyping are essential. 

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