Page 152 - IJB-9-4

International Journal of Bioprinting

REVIEW ARTICLE
3D printing and 3D-printed electronics:

Applications and future trends in smart drug
delivery devices

Wai Cheung Ma*, Guo Liang Goh, Balasankar Meera Priyadarshini,
Wai Yee Yeong
Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang
Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Related to 3D printing technology and materials)

Abstract
Drug delivery devices which can control the release of drugs on demand allow for
improved treatment to a patient. These smart drug delivery devices allow for the
release of drugs to be turned on and off as needed, thereby increasing the control over
the drug concentration within the patient. The addition of electronics to the smart
drug delivery devices increases the functionality and applications of these devices.
Through the use of 3D printing and 3D-printed electronics, the customizability and
functions of such devices can also be greatly increased. With the development in
such technologies, the applications of the devices will be improved. In this review
paper, the application of 3D-printed electronics and 3D printing in smart drug
delivery devices with electronics as well as the future trends of such applications are
*Corresponding author: covered.
Wai Cheung Ma
(M180019@e.ntu.edu.sg)
Citation: Ma WC, Goh GL, Keywords: 3D printing; Smart drug delivery device; Printed electronics
Priyadarshini BM, et al., 2023, 3D
printing and 3D-printed electronics:
Applications and future trends in
smart drug delivery devices.
Int J Bioprint, 9(4): 725. 1. Introduction
https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.725
Drug delivery devices are used to transport a drug either into a patient or to specific sites
Received: October 18, 2022 within a patient’s body. This can be achieved through different routes and methods. The
Accepted: December 07, 2022
Published Online: April 4, 2023 role of a drug delivery device is also to ensure that the drug concentration within the
patient or at the specific sites is within a certain functional range known as the therapeutic
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s).
[1]
This is an Open Access article window . The therapeutic window refers to a range of drug concentration within a
distributed under the terms of the patient which allows for the optimal treatment. Above this range, the drug becomes
Creative Commons Attribution toxic or causes intolerable adverse side effects and below which the drug is ineffective
License, permitting distribution
[2]
and reproduction in any medium, and unable to produce the desired effects . Thus ensuring that the drug concentration
provided the original work is stays within the therapeutic window is essential for providing effective treatment to the
properly cited. patient. Traditional drug delivery devices, however, once administered would not be
Publisher’s Note: Whioce able to control the amount and duration of drug release. This would affect the control of
Publishing remains neutral with drug concentration within a patient . Drug delivery devices which can directly control
[3]
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional the release of drug allow for the better control over the drug concentration that is within
[4]
affiliations. the patient or at the specific sites .

Volume 9 Issue 4 (2023) 144 https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.725