Chapter 18 - 3D printing technology in drug delivery

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is a powerful and beneficial tool for the automated manufacturing of tailor-made products. It is a rapid-evolving and emerging technology that is widely used in the world for its superiority over the conventional and traditional manufacturing techniques. So, this technology is currently used in the field of medical, pharmaceutical, healthcare, agriculture, aerospace, aviation, locomotive, automotive, construction, fashion, and jewelry industries. In 3D printing, 3D structures are fabricated by layer-by-layer precise positioning of functional materials with spatial control of the placement of these materials. In the pharmaceutical field, 3D printing has the potential for the fabrication of personalized drug delivery systems (DDS) and dosage forms. Additionally, it can facilitate the preclinical evaluation of novel drugs with the help of 3D-bioprinted tissues and organs. The objective of this chapter is to present the basic overview of the 3D printing technology in the pharmaceutical field. So, it will highlight the concept of 3D printing as a form of additive manufacturing (AM), and the significance of 3D printing as an innovative manufacturing technique. Then, it will proceed to clarify the rationale to manufacture the DDS/drug products using 3D printing technologies, the common 3D printing techniques, and 3D printers. The main 3D printing techniques that have been researched, applied in the pharmaceutical field, and discussed here are stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and binder jetting-based three-dimensional printing. Finally, the chapter will discuss the applications, limitations, and outlook of 3D printing technology in the pharmaceutical field.