3D printed tablets loaded with polymeric nanocapsules: An innovative approach to produce customized drug delivery systems

Abstract

The generation of multi-functional drug delivery systems, namely solid dosage forms loaded with nano-sized carriers, remains little explored and is still a challenge for formulators. For the first time, the coupling of two important technologies, 3D printing and nanotechnology, to produce innovative solid dosage forms containing drug-loaded nanocapsules was evaluated here. Drug delivery devices were prepared by fused deposition modelling (FDM) from poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and Eudragit RL100 (ERL) filaments with or without a channelling agent (mannitol). They were soaked in deflazacort-loaded nanocapsules (particle size: 138nm) to produce 3D printed tablets (printlets) loaded with them, as observed by SEM. Drug loading was improved by the presence of the channelling agent and a linear correlation was obtained between the soaking time and the drug loading (r=0.9739). Moreover, drug release profiles were dependent on the polymeric material of tablets and the presence of the channelling agent. In particular, tablets prepared with a partially hollow core (50% infill) had a higher drug loading (0.27% w/w) and faster drug release rate. This study represents an original approach to convert nanocapsules suspensions into solid dosage forms as well as an efficient 3D printing method to produce novel drug delivery systems, as personalised nanomedicines.

Additive Manufacturing of Precision Biomaterials

“…Particle‐based delivery vehicles have also been incorporated into devices or biomaterial inks for AM. For example, FDM was employed to produce tablet forms composed of PCL and Eudragit RL100 filaments that were subsequently soaked in a suspension of deflazacort‐loaded polymeric nanocapsules to passively load the particles into the tablet . Thus, the release of deflazacort was affected by the release of the small molecule from the nanocapsules and subsequent diffusion through the material, or vice versa the diffusion of the particle through the material and the consequent release of the small molecule from the capsule.…”

Application of Hot Melt Extrusion in Pharmaceutical 3D Printing

“…Additive manufacturing term is used for a group of technologies which construct the physical parts layer by layer addition of materials which is different from the conventional machining. There are various 3D printing methods employed for drug product manufacturing which are used based on the materials, equipment, and solidification shown in Figure 1 and Table 1 [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30].…”

3D-printing: an emerging and a revolutionary technology in pharmaceuticals

“…However, the ratio of polymer to filler used needs to be optimized to obtain a quality 3d-print. 7 meanwhile, many different techniques were developed in order to fabricate 3d printed macro and micro scale systems, which could improve drug loading, give controlled release and many other advantages. and this was only possible by using various thermoplastic polymers, hydrogels, including banding, residuals, warping, leaning, etc.…”