Printability of External and Internal Structures Based on Digital Light Processing 3D Printing Technique

Abstract

The high printing efficiency and easy availability of desktop digital light processing (DLP) printers have made DLP 3D printing a promising technique with increasingly broad application prospects, particularly in personalized medicine. The objective of this study was to fabricate and evaluate medical samples with external and internal structures using the DLP technique. The influence of different additives and printing parameters on the printability and functionality of this technique was thoroughly evaluated. It was observed that the printability and mechanical properties of external structures were affected by the poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) concentration, plasticizers, layer height, and exposure time. The optimal printing solutions for 3D external and internal structures were 100% PEGDA and 75% PEGDA with 0.25 mg/mL tartrazine, respectively. And the optimal layer height for 3D external and internal structures were 0.02 mm and 0.05 mm, respectively. The optimal sample with external structures had an adequate drug-loading ability, acceptable sustained-release characteristics, and satisfactory biomechanical properties. In contrast, the printability of internal structures was affected by the photoabsorber, PEGDA concentration, layer height, and exposure time. The optimal samples with internal structures had good morphology, integrity and perfusion behavior. The present study showed that the DLP printing technique was capable of fabricating implants for drug delivery and physiological channels for in vivo evaluation.

Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D Printing of Atomoxetine Hydrochloride Tablets Using Photoreactive Suspensions

“…Easy availability of DLP printers has made this technology promising, primarily in personalized medicine. It is noteworthy that the DLP technology is capable of fabricating dental models [ 26 ], and different implants for drug delivery [ 27 ]. The main disadvantage of processes based on photopolymerization is the potential cytotoxicity, caused by the unreacted monomer and photoinitiator residues [ 28 ].…”

Tailoring Atomoxetine Release Rate from DLP 3D-Printed Tablets Using Artificial Neural Networks: Influence of Tablet Thickness and Drug Loading

“…So far, DLP printers have demonstrated their capacity to create dental models with high accuracy [ 22 ], as well as patient-specific drug delivery devices, including microneedle arrays on finger splints [ 23 ], hydrogel microneedles [ 24 ], non-dissolving suppository molds [ 25 ] and various implants [ 26 ]. Despite numerous advantages, the potential application of the DLP technique in the production and optimization of oral dosage forms has not been fully explored.…”

Recent Advances in Regenerative Tissue Fabrication: Tools, Materials, and Microenvironment in Hierarchical Aspects

“…[ 161 ] PEG can modify PEGDA, which is commonly used for body implants due to its biocompatibility and nontoxicity, for drug delivery, and for regenerative medicine purposes, by adding acrylate groups. [ 162,163 ] PEGDA has a low in vivo biodegradability, so a copolymer of PEGDA with poly(glycerol sebacate) acrylate (PGA) increases the degradation rate significantly compared with PEGDA without any modification. [ 164 ] PCL has an essential structure for bone tissue engineering and has good biocompatibility and nontoxicity for medical implant purposes.…”