Abstract
Gelatin-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and gelatin-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) mucoadhesive buccal films loaded with propranolol hydrochloride (PRH) were prepared by semi-solid extrusion 3D printing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the synthetic polymers PVP and PVA on thermal and mechanical properties and drug release profiles of gelatin-based films. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed that hydrogen bonding between gelatin and PVP formed during printing. In the other blend, neither the esterification of PVA nor gelatin occurred. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed the presence of partial helical structures. In line with these results, the mechanical properties and drug release profiles were different for each blend. Formulation with gelatin-PVP and PRH showed higher tensile strength, hardness, and adhesive strength but slower drug release than formulation with gelatin-PVA and PRH. The in silico population simulations indicated increased drug bioavailability and decreased inter-individual variations in the resulting pharmacokinetic profiles compared to immediate-release tablets. Moreover, the simulation results suggested that reduced PRH daily dosing can be achieved with prolonged-release buccal films, which improves patient compliance.
Highlights
Three-dimensional (3D) printing, an additive manufacturing technology, has been widely used to prepare different formulations that provide a personalized approach in drug delivery and tissue engineering [1,2,3]
The properties of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and polymers, the designed geometry/structure, and targeted drug release profiles influence the choice of a suitable method for 3D printing of the desired dosage form [4]
The buccal films were prepared by semi-solid extrusion 3D printing
Summary
Three-dimensional (3D) printing, an additive manufacturing technology, has been widely used to prepare different formulations that provide a personalized approach in drug delivery and tissue engineering [1,2,3]. The main principle of this method is based on the fabrication of different forms from digital models via layer-by-layer addition of printed materials [4,5]. The advantage of 3D printing is the manufacturing of high-quality formulations with different drug release profiles. The properties of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and polymers, the designed geometry/structure, and targeted drug release profiles influence the choice of a suitable method for 3D printing of the desired dosage form [4]
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