3D printing of tablets using inkjet with UV photoinitiation

Abstract

2 Additive manufacturing (AM) offers significant potential benefits in the field of drug delivery and pharmaceutical/medical device manufacture. Of AM processes, 3D inkjet printing enables precise deposition of a formulation, whilst offering the potential for significant scale up or scale out as a manufacturing platform. This work hypothesizes that suitable solvent based ink formulations can be developed that allow the production of solid dosage forms that meet the standards required for pharmaceutical tablets, whilst offering a platform for flexible and personalised manufacture. We demonstrate this using piezo-activated inkjetting to 3D print ropinirole hydrochloride. The tablets produced consist of a cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) (PEGDA) hydrogel matrix containing the drug, photoinitiated in a low oxygen environment using an aqueous solution of Irgacure 2959. At a Ropinirole HCl loading of 0.41mg, drug release from the tablet is shown to be Fickian. Raman and IR spectroscopy indicate a high degree of cross-linking and formation of an amorphous solid dispersion. This is the first publication of a UV inkjet 3D printed tablet. Consequently, this work opens the possibility for the translation of scalable, high precision and bespoke ink-jet based additive manufacturing to the pharmaceutical sector.

Recent Advances in Photo-Crosslinkable Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

“…In this regard, crosslinking can be induced through theaddition of biocompatible photoinitiators in the presence of UV or visible light source [38]. PEGDA hydrogels can be synthesized rapidly and easily, and their mechanical properties can be readily tuned by varying the concentration or molecular weight (MW) of thepolymer [39].…”

“…To synthesize PEGDA-based hydrogel, the PEGDA powder is dissolved in deionized water at a predetermined mass proportion (e.g.,0.25g PEGDA/ml deionized water) [38]. Photoinitiator Irgacure 2959 is usually added to the PEGDA solution at 0.1 (w/v) and is subsequently exposed to UV light for a few minutes (e.g.,1020min) to complete photopolymerization.…”

“…UV-crosslinked PEGDA hydrogel was made into pharmaceutical tablets using 3D inkjet printing to control the release of ropinorole hydrochloride, a drug used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease [38]. It has also been made into microneedles using a micromolding approach to deliver gap junction inhibitor (Gap 26) for repair of keloid scars via the transdermal route [40] (Figure 2A).…”

State‐of‐the‐Art and Future Challenges of UV Curable Polymer‐Based Smart Materials for Printing Technologies

“…Additive manufacturing is rapidly expanding and modifying the way in which products are designed and manufactured. This technology allows to create complex geometries with customizable material properties, with design freedom and environmental advantage, by transforming designed files into fully functional products. On the other hand, the rapid spread of a wide variety of technologies associated with AM, leads to an absence of a comprehensive set of materials, design principles and manufacturing guidelines.…”

Multifaceted polymeric materials in three‐dimensional processing (3DP) technologies: Current progress and prospects

“…For example, Fina et al reported the manufacture 3D printed tablets (Printlets ™ ) with different drug release properties, while Wang et al and Goyanes et al evaluated SLS to manufacture oral dosage forms containing either paracetamol or 4‐ASA and antiacne facial masks for topical drug delivery, respectively. Furthermore, EA Clark et al produced tablets consisting of a cross‐linked PEGDA hydrogel matrix containing the drug and photoinitiated in a low oxygen environment by using an aqueous solution of Irgacure 2959. Furthermore, the versatility of 3DP technologies in the development of drug delivery systems includes gastro‐floating tablets in gastro‐retentive drug delivery systems, personalized oral medicine, medical devices, and wound dressings …”