3D printing of nanocomposite pills through desktop vat photopolymerization (stereolithography) for drug delivery reasons

Peeyush Kumar Sharma,U S N Murty,Dinesh Choudhury,Vivek Yadav,Subham Banerjee

doi:10.1186/s41205-022-00130-2

Peeyush Kumar Sharma, U S N Murty + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s41205-022-00130-2

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Abstract

BackgroundThe desktop vat polymerization process or stereolithography printing is an ideal approach to develop multifunctional nanocomposites wherein a conventional solid dosage form is used as a reservoir for compliant administration of drug-loaded nanocarriers.MethodsIn this study, a nanocomposite drug delivery system, that is, hydrogel nanoparticles of an approved nutraceutical, berberine entrapped within vat photopolymerized monoliths, was developed for drug delivery applications. For the fabrication of the nanocomposite drug delivery systems/pills, a biocompatible vat photopolymerized resin was selected as an optimum matrix capable of efficiently delivering berberine from stereolithography mediated 3D printed nanocomposite pill.ResultsThe obtained data reflected the efficient formation of berberine-loaded hydrogel nanoparticles with a mean particle diameter of 95.05 ± 4.50 nm but low loading. Stereolithography-assisted fabrication of monoliths was achieved with high fidelity (in agreement with computer-aided design), and photo-crosslinking was ascertained through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The hydrogel nanoparticles were entrapped within the pills during the stereolithography process, as evidenced by electron microscopy. The nanocomposite pills showed a higher swelling in an acidic environment and consequently faster berberine release of 50.39 ± 3.44% after 4 h. The overall results suggested maximal release within the gastrointestinal transit duration and excretion of the exhausted pills.ConclusionsWe intended to demonstrate the feasibility of making 3D printed nanocomposite pills achieved through the desktop vat polymerization process for drug delivery applications.

Highlights

The desktop vat polymerization process or stereolithography printing is an ideal approach to develop multifunctional nanocomposites wherein a conventional solid dosage form is used as a reservoir for compliant administration of drug-loaded nanocarriers
A wide array of drug delivery systems ranging from microneedles [20, 21] to polypills [22] and personalized devices has been reported in recent literature [4, 21, 23,24,25]
For drug quantification studies; initially, the resin was prepared at a drug concentration of 1.5 mg/mL, and after the ultrafiltration [45] step for removing the free drug, the drug content was found to be 0.105 ± 0.09 mg/ml of BBR-NPs with an encapsulation efficiency of the desired population being 7.04 ± 0.34%

Summary

Introduction

The desktop vat polymerization process or stereolithography printing is an ideal approach to develop multifunctional nanocomposites wherein a conventional solid dosage form is used as a reservoir for compliant administration of drug-loaded nanocarriers. Additive manufacturing or three-dimensional printing (3DP) is one of the most advanced manufacturing technique for producing customized products [1, 2]. Across the various categories of 3DP technology, such as fused deposition modelling (FDM) [17], selective laser sintering [18], and stereolithography (SLA), the latter stands out as a vat polymerization technique wherein a photo-crosslinkable resin liquid is converted into a solid upon light irradiation [19]. A wide array of drug delivery systems ranging from microneedles [20, 21] to polypills [22] and personalized devices has been reported in recent literature [4, 21, 23,24,25]

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