3D printing of bioactive materials for drug delivery applications

Introduction

Three-dimensional (3D) printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a modern technique/technology, which makes it possible to construct 3D objects from computer-aided design (CAD) digital models. This technology can be used in the progress of drug delivery systems, where porosity has played important role in attaining an acceptable level of biocompatibility and biodegradability with improved therapeutic effects. 3D printing may also provide the user possibility to control the dosage of each ingredient in order to a specific purpose, and makes it probable to improve the formulation of drug delivery systems.

Highlights

• 3D printing permits constructing dosage forms as per require.

• The selection of materials in the 3D printing is important. This selection mostly depends on the kind of procedure and printer used.

• 3D printing of bioactive materials has been experienced to find efficient ways to develop drug delivery systems with multifunctional and stimuli-responsive properties

• This technology is converting the medicine application through the construction of rapid prototypes.

Areas covered

This article covers the 3D printing technologies, bioactive materials including natural and synthetic polymers as well as some ceramics and minerals and their roles in drug delivery systems.

Expert opinion

This technology is feasible to fabricate drug products by incorporating multiple drugs in different parts in such a mode that these drugs can release from the section at a predetermined rate. Furthermore, this 3D printing technology has the possible to transform personalized therapy to various age-groups by design flexibility and precise dosing. In recent years, the potential use of this technology can be realized in a clinical situation where patients will acquire individualized medicine as per their require.

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Golara Nasiri, Sepideh Ahmadi, Mohammad-Ali Shahbazi, Vahideh Nosrati, Yousef Fatahi, Rassoul Dinarvand, Mohammad Rabiee, Farahnaz Haftlang, Hyoung Seop Kim & Navid Rabiee (2022) 3D printing of bioactive materials for drug delivery applications, Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2022.2112944