The Advantages of the 3D Printing Method for Oral Thin Film Preparation

3D printing technology has been used to develop novel and complex drug delivery systems that are nearly impossible to produce with traditional formulation techniques. This technology can be used to produce tablets or oral thin films containing multiple layers of active ingredients that can be personalized to meet the needs of patients.

The Advantages of the 3D Printing Method for Oral Thin Film Preparation

The 3D printing technologies as an unconventional method for the manufacture of oral thin films, have gained tremendous impetus over the past few years and are emerging as platforms for manufacturing pharmaceutical products. These technologies have been adopted for the production of oral thin films and have the following advantages over the conventional methods of production:

Accuracy in drug loading, especially for potent drugs that are prescribed in small dosages.

3D printing technology can be used to superimpose thin film layers to accommodate more active ingredients per unit area.

Homogeneity of the oral thin film is challenging to achieve in the conventional methods.

Minimal wastage and efficient recycling lead to cost-cutting.

3D Printing Process for Oral Thin Film Preparation

3D printing technology mixes the prescription into a printing slurry, imports the three-dimensional model of the oral thin film through computer printing software, and sets the printing parameters for printing preparation. Flexible design and accurate printing dose provide a new preparation method for personalized drug delivery of the oral thin film.

Technologies & Platform

Inkjet printing technology Platform

Inkjet printing technology is the most classic printing method applied to oral thin film preparation, similar to office ink cartridge printing. The specific process is to dissolve the active ingredients and excipients together in the printing ink, and then precipitate the raw and excipient solutions on a fixed-size substrate to form a thin film. Based on this method, we developed thermal inkjet printing, using a fixed platform instead of a roller to increase the drug-loading capacity of the film to the milligram level. The oral thin film prepared by spray printing is morphologically stable, has a high drug-loading capacity and solid-state properties, and can achieve rapid disintegration after administration.

Fused deposition Modeling Technology Platform

Fused deposition modeling technology is another commonly used 3D printing technique for preparing oral thin films. The method is to heat the active ingredient and auxiliary material at a high temperature to make it into a molten state of liquid, and then extrude it to form a filament, and then print it to form a substance with three-dimensional characteristics. Compared with other preparation techniques, the oral thin film prepared by melt deposition has better structural characteristics, higher dose uniformity, and unidirectional drug release can be achieved if a supporting layer is introduced on one side of the oral film. Compared with other preparation techniques, the oral thin film prepared by melt deposition has better structural characteristics, higher dose uniformity, and unidirectional drug release can be achieved if a supporting layer is introduced on one side of the oral film.

References

Witold Jamróz, Mateusz Kurek, et al. 3D printed orodispersible films with Aripiprazole. International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 2017, Vol (533):413-420.

Jan Elbl, Jan Gajdziok, et al. 3D printing of multilayered orodispersible films with in-process drying. International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 2020, Vol (575).