Role of 3D Printing in the Development of Biodegradable Implants for Central Nervous System Drug Delivery

Abstract

Increased life expectancy has led to a rise in age-related disorders including neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Limited progress has been made in the development of clinically translatable therapies for these central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Challenges including the blood−brain barrier, brain complexity, and comorbidities in the elderly population are some of the contributing factors toward lower success rates. Various invasive and noninvasive ways are being employed to deliver small and large molecules across the brain. Biodegradable, implantable drug-delivery systems have gained lot of interest due to advantages such as sustained and targeted delivery, lower side effects, and higher patient compliance. 3D printing is a novel additive manufacturing technique where various materials and printing techniques can be used to fabricate implants with the desired complexity in terms of mechanical properties, shapes, or release profiles. This review discusses an overview of various types of 3D-printing techniques and illustrative examples of the existing literature on 3D-printed systems for CNS drug delivery. Currently, there are various technical and regulatory impediments that need to be addressed for successful translation from the bench to the clinical stage. Overall, 3D printing is a transformative technology with great potential in advancing customizable drug treatment in a high-throughput manner.

Biopolymer Composites Material Extrusion and their Applications: A Review

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Incorporation of Controlled Release Systems Improves the Functionality of Biodegradable 3D Printed Cardiovascular Implants

“…Stringent official regulations are needed to secure the health of the patient and will be required in the approval process affecting clinical translation and commercialization. , Postprocessing steps, such as removal of supports and sterilization of 3D printed biodegradable cardiovascular implants, could alter their quality and shape. This alteration could potentially lead to degradation and is even more challenging in implants with incorporated controlled releasing systems, as the exposure to sterilization techniques could also degrade the therapeutic agents . In conclusion, the effort needs to focus on the development of an approved standard for 3D printed biodegradable implants by the respective regulatory authorities which would facilitate the clinical translation of this class of cardiovascular constructs …”

“…could potentially lead to degradation and is even more challenging in implants with incorporated controlled releasing systems, as the exposure to sterilization techniques could also degrade the therapeutic agents. 6 In conclusion, the effort needs to focus on the development of an approved standard for 3D printed biodegradable implants by the respective regulatory authorities which would facilitate the clinical translation of this class of cardiovascular constructs. 130…”

“…In contrast, biodegradable implants with controlled release systems release the medication during their degradation while tissue regeneration replaces the physiological function process. 6 As a new milestone in research, the advantages of biodegradable implants can be enhanced by applying 3D printing in the fabrication process. Considering the different defect geometries and the complexity of tissue and organ architecture in patients, additive manufacturing is an appropriate approach that could potentially lead to the fabrication of personalized cardiovascular medical devices in the future.…”