School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
Int J Pharm. 2022 Sep 25;625:122140. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122140. Epub 2022 Aug 27.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing allows for the design and printing of more complex designs than traditional manufacturing processes. For the manufacture of personalised medicines, such an advantage could enable the production of personalised drug products on demand. In this study, two types of extrusion-based 3D printing techniques, semi-solid syringe extrusion 3D printing and fused deposition modelling, were used to fabricate a combi-layer construct (combi-pill). Two model drugs, tranexamic acid (water soluble, rapid release) and indomethacin (poorly water-soluble, extended release), were printed with different geometries and materials compositions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results showed that there were no interactions detected between drug-drug and drug-polymers. The printed combi-pills demonstrated excellent abrasion resisting properties in friability tests. The use of different functional excipients demonstrated significant impact on in vitro drug release of the model drugs incorporated in two 3D printed layers. Tranexamic acid and indomethacin were successfully 3D printed as a combi-pill with immediate-release and sustained-release profiles, respectively, to target quick anti-bleeding and prolonged anti-inflammation functions. For the first time, this paper systematically demonstrates the feasibility of coupling syringe-based extrusion 3D printing and fused deposition modelling as an innovative platform for various drug therapy productions, facilitating a new era of personalised combi-pills development.
三维（3D）打印技术相较于传统制造工艺，可设计并打印更复杂的结构。对于个性化药物的生产，这一优势可以实现按需生产个性化药物产品。在本研究中，我们使用了两种基于挤出的 3D 打印技术，即半固态注射器挤出 3D 打印和熔丝制造，来制造组合层结构（组合丸）。两种模型药物，氨甲环酸（水溶性，快速释放）和吲哚美辛（水溶性差，延长释放），采用不同的几何形状和材料组成进行打印。傅里叶变换红外光谱结果表明，药物-药物和药物-聚合物之间未检测到相互作用。打印的组合丸在脆碎度试验中表现出优异的抗磨损性能。不同功能辅料的使用对两种 3D 打印层中模型药物的体外释放有显著影响。氨甲环酸和吲哚美辛成功地以组合丸的形式打印，分别具有即时释放和持续释放的特性，以实现快速止血和延长抗炎的功能。本文首次系统地证明了将基于注射器的挤出 3D 打印和熔丝制造相结合作为一种创新平台用于各种药物治疗生产的可行性，为个性化组合丸的开发开辟了一个新时代。
