Abstract
Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a rapid prototyping technique for the production of three-dimensional objects through selectively sintering powder-based layer materials. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of energy density (ED) and formulation factors on the printability and characteristics of SLS irbesartan tablets. The correlation between formulation factors, ED, and printability was obtained using a decision tree model with an accuracy of 80%. FT-IR results revealed that there was no interaction between irbesartan and the applied excipients. DSC results indicated that irbesartan was present in an amorphous form in printed tablets. ED had a significant influence on tablets’ physical, mechanical, and morphological characteristics. Adding lactose monohydrate enabled faster drug release while reducing the possibility for printing with different laser speeds. However, formulations with crospovidone were printable with a wider range of laser speeds. The adjustment of formulation and process parameters enabled the production of SLS tablets with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose with complete release in less than 30 min. The results suggest that a decision tree could be a useful tool for predicting the printability of pharmaceutical formulations. Tailoring the characteristics of SLS irbesartan tablets by ED is possible; however, it needs to be governed by the composition of the whole formulation.
Highlights
Nowadays, we are faced with the rapid development of three-dimensional (3D)printing techniques in pharmaceuticals
It was observed that the printability of pharmaceutical powder mixtures was influenced by formulation characteristics and process conditions
The evaluation of energy density as critical process parameters in the selective laser sintering (SLS) printing of solid dosage forms could allow the comparison of the results between different printers
Summary
We are faced with the rapid development of three-dimensional (3D). Three-dimensional printing brings unprecedented opportunities to individualize medicine to a patient’s body weight and lifestyle by dose and dosage form adjustment [1]. Various 3D printing technologies have been intensively investigated in the past decade in pharmaceutical fields, such as fused filament fabrication (FFF), stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), selective laser sintering (SLS). SLS is a rapid prototyping technique for the production of 3D objects through selectively sintering powder-based layer materials [2,5,6]. The laser is directed to draw a specific pattern onto the surface of the powder bed. The method is solvent free and does not require a filament form of raw material or photopolymerizable resin.
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