Fabrication of floating capsule-in- 3D-printed devices as gastro-retentive delivery systems of amoxicillin

Gastro-retentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) provide prolonged drug release in the stomach for the treatment of some diseases located in the gastric area, and can improve patient compliance by reducing the required dosing frequency.

In this study, floating 3D-printed devices combined with a commercial capsule of amoxicillin (Sia-Mox®) were developed for the treatment of H. Pylori infection. The floating 3D-printed devices (FPD) were fabricated using fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D-printer with PVA filament followed by thermal crosslinking process. The morphology of the FPD was investigated by microscope. The water insolubilization, TGA and FT-IR were analyzed to confirm the successful crosslinking of the FPD.

In vitro floating time and drug release in a simulated gastric fluid were determined using the USP dissolution apparatus II. The results showed that the floating time of the Sia-Mox® incorporated FPD was significantly longer than that of the conventional Sia-Mox® capsule, and that the floating time increased after the FPD was crosslinked. The optimal condition for the crosslinking of FPD was 140 °C for 6 h (FPD4).

In vivo floating study in rabbit showed that the floating time of FPD4 was more than 10 h. The release of the drug from the Sia-Mox® in FPD4 fitted with the Higuchi model. Our results demonstrated that the development of FPD for GRDDS was successful, which the FPDs were able to float and prolong drug release. More on floating capsules and 3D-printing