A Review on The Role Of 3d Printing in Pharmacy

The introduction of 3D printing technology in the pharmaceutical industry has opened new horizons in the research and development of printed materials and devices. The main benefits of 3D printing technology lie in the production of small batches of medicines, each with tailored dosages, shapes, sizes, and release characteristics. The pharmaceutical industry is moving ahead at a rapid pace. Modern technology has enabled the development of novel dosage forms for targeted therapy. However, the fabrication of novel dosage forms at industrial scale is limited and the industry still runs on conventional drug delivery systems, especially modified tablets. The manufacture of medicines in this way may finally lead to the concept of medicines becoming a reality. This chapter provides an overview of how 3D printed technology has exit personalized ended from initial unit operations to developed final products. Compared to traditional preparation technologies, 3D printing offers flexibility in the design of complex 3D structures within drugs, the adjustment of drug doses and combinations, and rapid manufacturing and prototyping, enabling precise control of drug release to meet a wide range of clinical needs, a high degree of flexibility and creativity to personalize pharmaceuticals, and a significant reduction in preparation development time, driving a breakthrough in drug manufacturing technology and transforming the way we design, manufacture, and use drugs. Three-dimensional printing technologies have been used to manufacture a variety of medicinal products, such as immediate-release tablets, controlled-release tablets, dispersible films, microneedles, implants, and transdermal patches . The main 3D printing technologies used in pharmaceuticals are BJ-3DP, FDM, SSE, and MED in material extrusion, and SLA . Table 1 describes the characteristics of these technologies at each stage of drug preparation and assesses the advantages and disadvantages of each technology.