Semi-solid extrusion 3D printing in drug delivery and biomedicine: Personalised solutions for healthcare challenges

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an innovative additive manufacturing technology, capable of fabricating unique objects in a layer-by-layer manner. Semi-solid extrusion (SSE) is a subset of material extrusion 3D printing, based on the sequential deposition of layers of gel or paste to create an object of a desired size and shape. In comparison to other extrusion-based technologies, SSE 3D printing employs low printing temperatures making it suitable for drug delivery and biomedical applications, and the use of disposable syringes provides benefits in meeting critical quality requirements for pharmaceutical use. Besides pharmaceutical manufacture, SSE 3D printing has attracted increasing attention in the field of bioelectronics, particularly in the manufacture of biosensors capable of measuring physiological parameters or as a means to trigger drug release from medical devices. This review begins by highlighting the major printing process parameters and material properties that influence the feasibility of transforming a 3D design into a 3D object, followed by a discussion of the current SSE 3D printing developments and applications in the fields of pharmaceutics, bioprinting and bioelectronics. Finally, the advantages and limitations offered by this technology are explored, focusing on its potential clinical applications and suitability for preparing personalised medicines. Continue on Semi-solid extrusion 3D printing in drug delivery and biomedicine

Iria Seoane-Viaño, Patricija Januskaite, Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo, Abdul W. Basit, Alvaro Goyanes,
Semi-solid extrusion 3D printing in drug delivery and biomedicine: Personalised solutions for healthcare challenges,
Journal of Controlled Release, 2021