A Review on Advances in 3D Printing Technology for Personalized Drug Delivery Systems

Review Article

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a revolutionary technology in pharmaceutical manufacturing, offering numberous possibilities for creating customized drug delivery systems. The layer-by-layer fabrication helps in precise control over drug product design, dosage forms, and release kinetics. Multiple printing technologies, including Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and various extrusion-based methods, have demonstrated success in producing pharmaceutical formulations. These methods allow the incorporation of active pharmaceutical ingredients into diverse materials such as thermoplastic polymers, photocurable resins, and biocompatible hydrogels. The ability to create complex geometries and internal structures facilitates the development of sophisticated drug delivery systems with tailored release profiles. The technology shows particular promise in to overcome the challenges in pediatric and geriatric medicine through personalized dosage forms. Additionally, bioprinting applications extend to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, enabling the fabrication of drug-loaded scaffolds and implants. While 3D printing offers numerous advantages in pharmaceutical manufacturing, several challenges remain, including regulatory compliance, scalability limitations, and material constraints. Ongoing research focuses on expanding the range of printable pharmaceutical materials, optimizing printing parameters, and establishing quality control standards. The combination of artificial intelligence and automation in 3D printing processes may further increase the precision and efficiency of drug product manufacturing. It holds immense potential to revolutionize pharmaceutical manufacturing and advance personalized medicine as the 3D printing continues to mature