Diving into 3D (bio)printing: A revolutionary tool to customize the production of drug and cell-based systems for skin delivery

The incorporation of 3D printing technologies in the pharmaceutical industry can revolutionize its R&D, by providing a simple and rapid method to produce tailored one-off batches, each with customized dosages, different compounds, shapes, sizes, and adjusted release rates. Particularly, this type of technology can be advantageous for the development of topical and transdermal drug delivery systems, including patches and microneedles.

The use of both systems as drug carriers offers advantages over the oral administration, but the possibility of skin irritation and sensitization, and the high production costs, may hinder the expansion of this market. In this context, 3D printing, a high-resolution technique, allows the design of high quality, personalized, complex and sophisticated structures, thus reducing the production costs and improving the patient compliance. This review covers the 3D printing concept and discusses the relevance of this technology to the pharmaceutical industry, with a special focus on the development of topical and transdermal products – patches and microneedles.

The potential of 3D bioprinting for skin applications is also presented, highlighting the development of patch-like skin constructs for wound and burn treatment, and skin equivalents for in vitro research and drug development. Several recent studies were selected to support the relevance of the subjects addressed herein. Additionally, the limitations of these printing technologies are discussed, including regulatory, quality and safety issues.

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Article information: Sara Bom, Ana M. Martins, Helena M. Ribeiro, Joana Marto. Diving into 3D (bio)printing: A revolutionary tool to customize the production of drug and cell-based systems for skin delivery, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Volume 605, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120794.