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International Journal of Bioprinting 3D printing and 3D-printed electronics in smart drug delivery devices

Figure 2. (a) Scalable 3D-printed microreservoir with customizable shape and storage volume . (b) Completed device with a 3D-printed microreservoir,
[47]
micropump, and biocompatible 3D-printed casing for implantation. (Reprinted with permission from .)
[48]
This includes certain internal structure of certain parts of direct fabrication of the electronic components. This is
the smart drug delivery device. Examples of such include the known as 3D-printed electronics. 3D-printed electronics is
microneedle patch which has the internal structure of the a niche field within the landscape of 3D printing or additive
microfluidic mixing channel or internal reservoir [40,42] . manufacturing that mainly deals with the fabrication of
This allows for the addition of beneficial functions electrically and electronically functional components
which are difficult to or cannot be achieved through that use electrical signals to realize an intended purpose.
traditional fabrication methods. 3D printing also allows Unlike conventional 3D printing, 3D electronic printing
for the fabrication of customized design better tailored typically involves the use of a singular or a combination
to suit the function of the smart drug delivery device. of electrically conducting, semiconducting, and dielectric
The customizations include certain design aspects, such feedstock materials to produce different electronic
as the length of the microneedle for optimal piercing of architectures ranging from single-material components
chronic wounds, or certain slots and compartments for the to multi-layer and multiple materials components. To
addition of electronics. These customizations allow for the date, 3D printing has been successfully applied in different
devices to function optimally or allow for the addition of fields, such as aerospace, automobile, and biomedical
components which can aid the device’s function. sectors, to fabricate various types of active and passive
electronic components, circuits, sensors, antennas, and
The usage of 3D printing also allows for the embedding of
electronics and sensors to the device due to the layer-by-layer energy harvesting and storage devices, just to name a few.
Examples and descriptions of 3D-printed electronics used
fabrication. The layer-by-layer and on-demand fabrication in smart drug delivery devices will be given in subsequent
of 3D printing allows for the electronic component to be section.
put into place by pausing the printing process, after which
[50]
the printing process can be continued . This allows for the 3.1.1. Benefits of using 3D-printed electronics
electronic components, such as temperature, strain, or stress Conventionally, electronic system and devices are
sensors, to be not only placed on the surface of the device fabricated using silicon technology, printed circuit board
but also within the device [51,52] . These components can be technology, and microfabrication technology. These
used for monitoring and feedback of the patient condition electronic manufacturing technologies are known to be
in order to allow for healthcare professionals to provide capable of manufacturing advanced and high-performance
better care for the patient. Other components of the smart electronic devices. Although these processes are suitable and
drug delivery device, such as drug reservoirs and actuators effective for mass production of electronics, but they have
for controlling drug release, can also be embedded into the several drawbacks, such as (i) high energy consumption,
[53]
device through the use of 3D printing .
(ii) tedious fabrication process, (iii) being non-
3. Applying 3D-printed electronics to smart environmentally friendly because the processes produce
harmful waste products, (iv) limited material choices due
drug delivery devices to the high processing temperature, and (v) lesser design
3.1. 3D-printed electronics freedom. With the rising demands for wider applications
Another way in which 3D printing can be used for smart of electronics across various fields such as biomedical,
drug delivery devices which contain electronics is the wearable, and implantable applications, conventional

Volume 9 Issue 4 (2023) 149 https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.725