Systematic evaluations of melt-extruded filament for fused deposition modeling-mediated 3D printing
Aim: The significant critical barrier in the ascension of fused deposition modeling (FDM) into a scalable technology is the lack of defined quality benchmarks for validating filament performance. To avoid this issue, we aimed to create a comprehensive quantitative approach providing a road map to evaluate the fabricated filament for successful FDM 3D printing.
Materials & methods: A detailed in vitro physico-technological analysis including axial as well as oscillatory stress tests were performed to validate the melt-extruded filament.
Results & conclusion: The results from the above noted tests as well as microscopic examinations suggested toward the superiority of 6.5% plasticizer-loaded drug-polymer filaments in terms of mechanical prerequisites like feedability, extrudability and printability, as well as complete molecular homogenization.
With the advent of technology across the board, efforts have been made to improve the quality of human health. 3D printing is one such technology that can realize the long-due dreams of personalized drug delivery according to patient-specific requirements. In the present work, an approach incorporating drugs into the feedstock material (thermoplastic filament) for 3D printing was explored for personalized administration. A vital aspect of this approach is ensuring high accuracy and precision in the 3D-printing process. Herein, a pharmaceutically approved polymer (Eudragit® EPO) with/without drug combination, was transformed into 3D-printing feedstock (filament) and characterized for its mechanical properties when simulating the fused deposition process to determine its suitability for fused deposition modeling (FDM)-mediated 3D printing technology.
Ukti Bhatt, Peeyush Kumar Sharma, Upadhyayula Suryanarayana Murty & Subham Banerjee
JOURNAL OF 3D PRINTING IN MEDICINE, AHEAD OF PRINT
28 Apr 2022
https://doi.org/10.2217/3dp-2021-0031