Page 519 - IJB-9-6

International Journal of Bioprinting Advances for 3D-printed oral drug delivery systems

3.1.2. Pediatric budesonide in pediatric treatment, Pistone et al. generated
Compared with drugs for adults, drugs for children have a powder bed extruded (PBE) minitablet for pediatrics
very different pharmacokinetics in terms of absorption, with suitable swallowing, palatability, and dose flexibility
distribution, metabolism, and excretion ; consequently, control requirements .
[51]
[44]
it is not recommended to provide children with adult
medication at a lower dose. The lack of age-appropriate 3.1.3. Gastrointestinal tract
and commercially available pediatric formulations Drug absorption can be affected by the environmental
forces pharmacists or caregivers to manipulate adult pH and the drug pKa (acid dissociation constant)
formulations . In normal practice, approximately one- [52] , and the complexity, heterogeneity, and differences
[45]
tenth of the medicines that are prescribed for children in luminal pH of the gastrointestinal tract can lead to
are unlicensed or off-label . Given this, the 3D printing inferior pharmacokinetics and inefficient drug release.
[46]
of dosage forms can create age-appropriate formulations This sub-section focuses on the enhancement of oral
for pediatrics. DDS to boost drug release and residence time in the
gastrointestinal tract.
Using fused deposition, modeled minicaplets loaded
with baclofen for pediatrics were produced by Palekar Giri et al. used a hot melt extrusion process as well
et al. [47] The authors decided to fabricate this product since as fused deposition modeling to create controlled release
a child formulation based on baclofen was not available yet 3D-printed theophylline tablets with different infill
[53]
on the market. The results revealed that the minicaplets percentages and shell thickness . The fabricated tablets
were successful, and the size had a greater influence on the had the characteristic of floating for 10 h and exhibited
[53]
[47]
API release than the infill percentage . zero-order release kinetics .
Due to the lack of praziquantel formulations for In the same year, Reddy Dumpa et al. developed a core-
children, Boniatti et al. produced pediatric Printlets™ shell gastroretentive floating pulsatile delivery system.
with praziquantel, using direct powder extrusion and a The hollow tablets were fabricated using fused deposition
M3DIMAKER™ printer. While the tablets demonstrated modeling and had the ability to remain in the stomach
better performance in the dissolution tests and an gastric fluid until the pulse release of the dosage took place.
acceptable formulation taste, the drug loading still needed The tablets demonstrated successful results as they were
optimization. The resulting tablets are a promising solution able to deliver the dosage when high residence time in the
[54]
for the lack of a suitable a praziquantel formulation stomach was needed .
for children . Oladeji et al. applied fused deposition modeling to
[48]
Suárez-González et al. printed orodispersible dosage produce robust 3D-printed tablets using a sandwich model
[55]
forms (printlets™) for pediatrics with a semi-solid extrusion design with voids . The tablets were designed to support
process and a M3DIMAKER™ printer . The active floatability and prolonged gastric residence time and reduce
[49]
[55]
ingredient for the formulation was hydrochlorothiazide the influence of process and formulation variables .
(not commercially available for pediatrics), the excipients To obtain an intragastric floating and sustained release
were selected based on the possible toxicity by age, DDS, Zhao et al. used hot melt extrusion and dual fused
maximum daily dose, and route of administration, and deposition modeling . The manufactured tablets were
[56]
databases including Safety and Toxicity of Excipients for designed with air chambers to improve floatability and
Paediatrics (STEP database), Aggregated Computational the release behavior of the drug. The 3D-printed tablets
Toxicology Resource (ACTor), Toxicology Data Network manifested closer zero-order drug release for 24 h, and
(TOXNET), and Vitic were used for the excipient selection. reduced density due to the hollow air chambers .
[56]
The results showed that semi-solid extruded printlets
passed all the recommended pharmacopoeia tests . Mora-Castaño et al. prepared 3D-printed
[49]
gastroretentive floating tablets loaded with metformin as
To increase the safety and efficiency of the drug the API . The main aim was to maintain robust release
[57]
administration of 3D-printed levetiracetam tablets kinetics when varying the dose formulations with a
in Chinese children, Li et al. used physiological controlled release. The tablets were created with fused
pharmacokinetic modeling to guide drug development and deposition modeling, and the design allowed buoyancy of
[50]
drug selection . The 3D-printed tablets were developed the tablets and a sustained release of more than 8 h .
[57]
with binder jetting technology .
[50]
Gastroretentive fibrous expandable dosage forms
To reduce the possible therapeutic ineffectiveness of are also being investigated as an alternative to improve
the poor solubility, low absorption, and unavailability of residence in the stomach and release time. Blaesi and
Volume 9 Issue 6 (2023) 511 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijb.1119