Personalised Tasted Masked Chewable 3D Printed Fruit-Chews for Paediatric Patients

Abstract

The development of personalised paediatric dosage forms using 3D printing technologies has gained significant interest over the last few years. In the current study extruded filaments of the highly bitter Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride (DPH) were fabricated by using suitable hydrophilic carries such as hydroxypropyl cellulose (Klucel ELFTM) and a non-ionic surfactant (Gelucire 48/16TM) combined with sweetener (Sucralose) and strawberry flavour grades. The thermoplastic filaments were used to print 3D fruit-chew designs by Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) technology. Physicochemical characterisation confirmed the formation of glass solution where DPH was molecularly dispersed within the hydrophilic carriers. DPH was released rapidly from the 3D printed fruit-chew designs with >85% within the first 30 min. Trained panellists performed a full taste and sensory evaluation of the sweetener intensity and the strawberry aroma. The evaluation showed complete taste masking of the bitter DPH and revealed a synergistic effect of the sweetener and the strawberry flavour with enhanced sweet strawberry, fruity and aftertaste perception. The findings of the study can be used for the development of paediatric dosage forms with enhanced organoleptic properties, palatability and medication adherence.

The Advent of a New Era in Digital Healthcare: A Role for 3D Printing Technologies in Drug Manufacturing?

“…This method proved to be more accurate compared to the traditional tablet-cutting methods, while the drug release profile was not affected [48]. [41]; dosage forms shaped like candy (Starmix ® ) (middle left) [42]; taste-masked chewable dosage forms in various shapes (lower left) [43]; soft chewable Lego ™-shaped dosage form (upper right) [44]; chocolate-based dosage forms in various shapes (lower right) [40].…”

“…Ibuprofen and paracetamol were chosen as the incorporated drugs and the chewable chocolate formulations were printed in designs of simple shapes or popular cartoon characters so that the children could choose their favorite character and be a part of the process [ 40 ]. Another group used 3D printing to develop soft chewable pediatric-friendly drug-loaded gummies consisting of gelatin and HPMC in various shapes and colors [ 41 ], while Scoutaris et al [ 42 ] and Tabriz et al [ 43 ] improved the palatability of bitter drugs by incorporation in 3D-printed chewable tablets in the form of candies. Soft chewable dosage forms based on gelatin in the form of Lego™ bricks were also fabricated using a novel embedded 3D printing technique [ 44 ].…”

“… 3D-printed solid dosage forms for pediatric patients; gummy dosage forms ( upper left ) [ 41 ]; dosage forms shaped like candy (Starmix ® ) ( middle left ) [ 42 ]; taste-masked chewable dosage forms in various shapes ( lower left ) [ 43 ]; soft chewable Lego ™-shaped dosage form ( upper right ) [ 44 ]; chocolate-based dosage forms in various shapes ( lower right ) [ 40 ]. …”

Traction of 3D and 4D Printing in the Healthcare Industry: From Drug Delivery and Analysis to Regenerative Medicine

“…In addition, for pediatric product development, excipients selection should be considered in a way that is approved for these patients, and therefore, the formulation of dosage formats should be carefully designed . Ghanizadeh-Tabriz et al used an extrusion-based 3D printer to fabricate fruit-chew designs containing bitter diphenhydramine hydrochloride using hydroxypropyl cellulose as a carrier and gelucire 48/16TM as a nonionic surfactant combined with sucralose as a sweetener and strawberry flavor . A glass solution formation containing molecularly dispersed diphenhydramine hydrochloride inside the hydrophilic carriers was confirmed by physicochemical characterization.…”

“…The sensory evaluation of the strawberry aroma and the sweetener intensity revealed a full taste masking of the bitter diphenhydramine hydrochloride and showed a synergistic influence of the strawberry flavor and the sweetener with augmented fruity sweet strawberry and aftertaste perception. It has been stated that these results can be of benefit for pediatric dosage form development with improved organoleptic characteristics, medication adherence, and palatability …”