Page 166 - IJB-9-4

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

choosing biodegradable materials for device fabrication, Author contributions
residues of the degradation should be harmless to human Conceptualization: Wai Cheung Ma, Guo Liang Goh, Wai
body following implantation. Synthetic polymers such Yee Yeong
as polylactic acid and polycaprolactone are extensively Writing – original draft: Wai Cheung Ma, Guo Liang Goh,
explored for this purpose due to their biocompatibility and Balasankar Meera Priyadarshini
safe degradation by-products [90,134] . Moreover, implantable Writing – review & editing: Wai Cheung Ma, Guo Liang
devices can be coated with an immunomodulatory or Goh
immunoprotective coating in order to evade immune
response. In addition, the developed system should also Ethics approval and consent to participate
facilitate implantation in small as well as large animals
prior to clinical trials. A broad range of materials can be Not applicable.
used for the development of ink-based electronics devices
to achieve complicated geometric features and site-specific Consent for publication
drug delivery applications [135] . 3D-printed electronics will Not applicable.
bring unprecedented opportunities for smart drug delivery
by facilitating long-term implantation of the device Availability of data
with periodic delivery of active compounds. Further
developments in the field of 3D-printed bioelectronics Not applicable.
should exploit some unconventional architectures and
materials for use in drug delivery. References
5. Conclusion 1. Wen H, Jung H, Li X, 2015, Drug delivery approaches
in addressing clinical pharmacology-related issues:
“Active” smart drug delivery devices offer many benefits over Opportunities and challenges. AAPS J, 17(6):1327–1340.
traditional drug delivery devices and have the potential for
use as a closed loop, self-regulating drug delivery system. 2. Mehrotra N, Gupta M, Kovar A, et al., 2007, The
role of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in
By including electronics into this type of system, functions phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor therapy. Int J Impot Res,
such as monitoring of a patient’s condition can be achieved. 19(3):253–264.
This not only allows for on-demand drug release but also
provides more information to the healthcare professional 3. McCoy CP, Brady C, Cowley JF, et al., 2010, Triggered drug
to further improve the care to be provided. The use of delivery from biomaterials. Exp Opin Drug Deliv, 7(5):
605–616.
3D printing and 3D-printed electronics in “active” smart
drug delivery devices has increased the customizability 4. Wang Y, Kohane DS, 2017, External triggering and triggered
and versatility of the functions which these devices can targeting strategies for drug delivery. Nat Rev Mater,
provide. These additions allow for devices to be tailored to 2(6):17020.
suit individuals and also for different sensors and circuits 5. Alvarez-Lorenzo C, Concheiro A, 2014, Smart drug delivery
with varying functions to be printed onto the device. By systems: From fundamentals to the clinic. Chem Commun,
increasing the types of sensors that can be printed onto 50(58):7743–7765.
a device, the range of applications of the device would 6. Ghani M, Heiskanen A, Kajtez J, et al., 2021, On-demand
also increase. With the further development in hybrid reversible UV-triggered interpenetrating polymer
3D printing, flexible and 3D-printed bioelectronics, the network-based drug delivery system using the Spiropyran–
applications of such devices in not only long-term “active” Merocyanine hydrophobicity switch. ACS Appl Mater
drug delivery but also in healthcare monitoring can be Interfaces, 13(3):3591–3604.
greatly improved. 7. Zhou C, Xie X, Yang H, et al., 2019, Novel class of ultrasound-
triggerable drug delivery systems for the improved treatment
Acknowledgments of tumors. Mol Pharm, 16(7):2956–2965.
The authors are thankful for the support by Singapore 8. Hoare T, Timko BP, Santamaria J, et al., 2011, Magnetically
Centre for 3D Printing, Nanyang Technological University, triggered nanocomposite membranes: A versatile platform
Singapore. The content is solely the responsibility of the for triggered drug release. Nano Letters, 11(3):1395–1400.
authors. 9. Teodorescu F, Quéniat G, Foulon C, et al., 2017, Transdermal
skin patch based on reduced graphene oxide: A new approach
Conflict of interest for photothermal triggered permeation of ondansetron
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. across porcine skin. J Control Release, 245:137–146.

Volume 9 Issue 4 (2023) 158 https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.725