Production of Reproducible Filament Batches for the Fabrication of 3D Printed Oral Forms

HME coupled with FDM 3D printing of a customized oral solid form to treat pediatric epilepsy

Interest in hot-melt extrusion (HME) and fused deposition material (FDM) printing has increased in recent years, for the production of tailored medications for patients with specific requirements, such as pediatrics. Liquid forms are often preferred for children but these forms are less stable than oral solid forms (such as tablets or powder), requiring preservative not always suitable for children. Then, the aim of this study is to develop a dose-adapted dispersible 3D printed forms using HME with FDM to treat pediatric epilepsy. Polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based 3D printed forms were developed with sodium valproate (VAL) as model drug at different concentrations. The effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG)'s molecular weight (PEG6K and PEG35K) used as plasticizer on the formulations' mechanical, thermal and rheological properties were investigated. Formulation with 10 % (w/w) of VAL were printed with PEG6K and PEG35K, while only PEG35K was suitable for extruding and printing a formulation containing 30 % (w/w) of VAL due to its rheological properties. Steric exclusion chromatography coupled with refraction index was used to quantify VAL content, indicating uniform concentration in the filament after extrusion. Dissolution test in acidic media display over 80 % of VAL released within 20 to 25 min, reaching the Eur. Ph. Criteria of a rapid release. The outcomes of this study present suitable formulations to produce personalized dispersible form using HME with FDM 3D printing to treat pediatric epilepsy (1 month to 4 years old patients with dosage from 18 to 247 mg/kg/day) for the treatment of epilepsy.

Promising tools for future drug discovery and development in antiarrhythmic therapy

Arrhythmia refers to irregularities in the rate and rhythm of the heart, with symptoms spanning from mild palpitations to life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The complex molecular nature of arrhythmias complicates the selection of appropriate treatment. Current therapies involve the use of antiarrhythmic drugs (class I-IV) with limited efficacy and dangerous side effects and implantable pacemakers and cardioverter-defibrillators with hardware-related complications and inappropriate shocks. The number of novel antiarrhythmic drugs in the development pipeline has decreased substantially during the last decade and underscores uncertainties regarding future developments in this field. Consequently, arrhythmia treatment poses significant challenges, prompting the need for alternative approaches. Remarkably, innovative drug discovery and development technologies show promise in helping advance antiarrhythmic therapies. In this article, we review unique characteristics and the transformative potential of emerging technologies that offer unprecedented opportunities for transitioning from traditional antiarrhythmics to next-generation therapies. We assess stem cell technology, emphasizing the utility of innovative cell profiling using multiomics, high-throughput screening, and advanced computational modeling in developing treatments tailored precisely to individual genetic and physiological profiles. We offer insights into gene therapy, peptide, and peptibody approaches for drug delivery. We finally discuss potential strengths and weaknesses of such techniques in reducing adverse effects and enhancing overall treatment outcomes, leading to more effective, specific, and safer therapies. Altogether, this comprehensive overview introduces innovative avenues for personalized rhythm therapy, with particular emphasis on drug discovery, aiming to advance the arrhythmia treatment landscape and the prevention of sudden cardiac death. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death account for 15%-20% of deaths worldwide. However, current antiarrhythmic therapies are ineffective and have dangerous side effects. Here, we review the field of arrhythmia treatment underscoring the slow progress in advancing the cardiac rhythm therapy pipeline and the uncertainties regarding evolution of this field. We provide information on how emerging technological and experimental tools can help accelerate progress and address the limitations of antiarrhythmic drug discovery.

Pediatric Formulations Developed by Extrusion-Based 3D Printing: From Past Discoveries to Future Prospects

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology in pharmaceutical areas is leading to a significant change in controlled drug delivery and pharmaceutical product development. Pharmaceutical industries and academics are becoming increasingly interested in this innovative technology due to its inherent inexpensiveness and rapid prototyping. The 3DP process could be established in the pharmaceutical industry to replace conventional large-scale manufacturing processes, particularly useful for personalizing pediatric drugs. For instance, shape, size, dosage, drug release and multi-drug combinations can be tailored according to the patient's needs. Pediatric drug development has a significant global impact due to the growing needs for accessible age-appropriate pediatric medicines and for acceptable drug products to ensure adherence to the prescribed treatment. Three-dimensional printing offers several significant advantages for clinical pharmaceutical drug development, such as the ability to personalize medicines, speed up drug manufacturing timelines and provide on-demand drugs in hospitals and pharmacies. The aim of this article is to highlight the benefits of extrusion-based 3D printing technology. The future potential of 3DP in pharmaceuticals has been widely shown in the last few years. This article summarizes the discoveries about pediatric pharmaceutical formulations which have been developed with extrusion-based technologies.

Exploring Environmental Settings to Improve the Printability of Paroxetine-Loaded Filaments by Fused Deposition Modelling

The successful integration of hot-melt extrusion (HME) and fused deposition modelling (FDM) depends on a better understanding of the impact of environmental conditions on the printability of formulations, since they significantly affect the properties of the raw materials, whose control is crucial to enable three-dimensional printing (3DP). Hence, the objective of this work was to investigate the correlation between the environmental settings and the properties of paroxetine (PRX)-loaded filaments, previously produced by HME, which affect printability by FDM. The influence of different drying methods of the physical mixtures (PMs) and HME-filaments (FILs) on the quality and printability of these products was also assessed. The printability of FILs was evaluated in terms of the water content, and the mechanical and thermal properties of the products. Stability studies and physicochemical, thermal, and in vitro dissolution tests were carried out on the 3D-printed tablets. Stability studies demonstrated the high ductility of the PRX loaded FILs, especially under high humidity conditions. Under low humidity storage conditions (11% RH), the FILs became stiffer and were successfully used to feed the FDM printer. Water removal was slow when carried out passively in a controlled atmosphere (desiccator) or accelerated by using active drying methods (heat or microwave). Pre-drying of the PRX/excipients and/or PMs did not show any positive effect on the printability of the FIL. On the contrary, dry heat and, preferably, microwave mediated drying processes were shown to reduce the holding time required for successful FDM printing, enabling on-demand production at the point of care.

Development of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Controlled Amiodarone Delivery

In various drug delivery systems, solid lipid nanoparticles are dominantly lipid-based nanocarriers. Amiodarone hydrochloride is an antiarrhythmic agent used to treat severe rhythm disturbances. It has variable and hard-to-predict absorption in the gastrointestinal tract because of its low solubility and high permeability. The aims of this study were to improve its solubility by encapsulating amiodarone into solid lipid nanoparticles using two excipients-Compritol® 888 ATO (pellets) (C888) as a lipid matrix and Transcutol® (T) as a surfactant. Six types of amiodarone-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (AMD-SLNs) were obtained using a hot homogenization technique followed by ultrasonication with varying sonication parameters. AMD-SLNs were characterized by their size distribution, polydispersity index, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and drug loading. Based on the initial evaluation of the entrapment efficiency, only three solid lipid nanoparticle formulations (P1, P3, and P5) were further tested. They were evaluated through scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, near-infrared spectrometry, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and in vitro dissolution tests. The P5 formulation showed optimum pharmaco-technical properties, and it had the greatest potential to be used in oral pharmaceutical products for the controlled delivery of amiodarone.

Development of 3D-Printed Bicompartmental Devices by Dual-Nozzle Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) for Colon-Specific Drug Delivery

Dual-nozzle fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a 3D printing technique that allows for the simultaneous printing of two polymeric filaments and the design of complex geometries. Hence, hybrid formulations and structurally different sections can be combined into the same dosage form to achieve customized drug release kinetics. The objective of this study was to develop a novel bicompartmental device by dual-nozzle FDM for colon-specific drug delivery. Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were selected as matrix-forming polymers of the outer pH-dependent and the inner water-soluble compartments, respectively. 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) was selected as the model drug. Drug-free HPMCAS and drug-loaded PVA filaments suitable for FDM were extruded, and their properties were assessed by thermal, X-ray diffraction, microscopy, and texture analysis techniques. 5-ASA (20% w/w) remained mostly crystalline in the PVA matrix. Filaments were successfully printed into bicompartmental devices combining an outer cylindrical compartment and an inner spiral-shaped compartment that communicates with the external media through an opening. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray tomography analysis were performed to guarantee the quality of the 3D-printed devices. In vitro drug release tests demonstrated a pH-responsive biphasic release pattern: a slow and sustained release period (pH values of 1.2 and 6.8) controlled by drug diffusion followed by a faster drug release phase (pH 7.4) governed by polymer relaxation/erosion. Overall, this research demonstrates the feasibility of the dual-nozzle FDM technique to obtain an innovative 3D-printed bicompartmental device for targeting 5-ASA to the colon.

A Review of 3D Printing Technology in Pharmaceutics: Technology and Applications, Now and Future

Three-dimensional printing technology, also called additive manufacturing technology, is used to prepare personalized 3D-printed drugs through computer-aided model design. In recent years, the use of 3D printing technology in the pharmaceutical field has become increasingly sophisticated. In addition to the successful commercialization of Spritam^® in 2015, there has been a succession of Triastek's 3D-printed drug applications that have received investigational new drug (IND) approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Compared with traditional drug preparation processes, 3D printing technology has significant advantages in personalized drug manufacturing, allowing easy manufacturing of preparations with complex structures or drug release behaviors and rapid manufacturing of small batches of drugs. This review summaries the mechanisms of the most commonly used 3D printing technologies, describes their characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and applications in the pharmaceutical industry, analyzes the progress of global commercialization of 3D printed drugs and their problems and challenges, reflects the development trends of the 3D printed drug industry, and guides researchers engaged in 3D printed drugs.

3D Printing of Pediatric Medication: The End of Bad Tasting Oral Liquids?-A Scoping Review

3D printing of pediatric-centered drug formulations can provide suitable alternatives to current treatment options, though further research is still warranted for successful clinical implementation of these innovative drug products. Extensive research has been conducted on the compliance of 3D-printed drug products to a pediatric quality target product profile. The 3D-printed tablets were of particular interest in providing superior dosing and release profile similarity compared to conventional drug manipulation and compounding methods, such as oral liquids. In the future, acceptance of 3D-printed tablets in the pediatric patient population might be better than current treatments due to improved palatability. Further research should focus on expanding clinical knowledge, providing regulatory guidance and expansion of the product range, including dosage form possibilities. Moreover, it should enable the use of diverse good manufacturing practice (GMP)-ready 3D printing techniques for the production of various drug products for the pediatric patient population.

D-Sorbitol Physical Properties Effects on Filaments Used by 3D Printing Process for Personalized Medicine

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is a process used to manufacture oral forms adapted to the needs of patients. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) filaments were produced by hot melt extrusion (HME) to obtain a filament suitable for the production of amiodarone hydrochloride oral forms by FFF 3D printing. In order to produce personalized oral forms adapted to the patient characteristics, filaments used by FFF must be controlled in terms of mass homogeneity along filament. This work highlights the relation between filament mass homogeneity and its diameter. This is why the impact of filler excipients physical properties was studied. It has been showed that the particle’s size distribution of the filler can modify the filament diameter variability which has had an impact on the mass of oral forms produced by FFF. Through this work it was shown that D-Sorbitol from Carlo Erba allows to obtain a diameter variability of less than 2% due to its unique particle’s size distribution. Using the filament produced by HME and an innovating calibration method based on the filament length, it has been possible to carry out three dosages of 125 mg, 750 mg and 1000 mg by 3D printing with acceptable mass uniformity.