A 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY IN PHARMACEUTICALS
Keywords:
3D Printing; Additive Manufacturing; Personalized Medicine; Pharmaceuticals; Drug Delivery; Fused Deposition Modeling; BioprintingAbstract
Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has emerged as a revolutionary approach in the pharmaceutical industry by enabling personalized medicine, precise drug delivery systems, and advanced dosage form fabrication. 3D printing allows the layer-by-layer construction of pharmaceutical products with customized shapes, sizes, drug release characteristics, and complex geometries. The introduction of additive manufacturing in pharmaceuticals has transformed traditional manufacturing approaches and accelerated innovation in personalized therapeutics, tissue engineering, implants, and medical devices. The United States Food and Drug Administration approval of Spritam® (levetiracetam) in 2015 marked a major milestone in pharmaceutical 3D printing. Various 3D printing technologies such as fused deposition modeling, stereolithography, selective laser sintering, binder jet printing, and semi-solid extrusion are widely investigated for pharmaceutical applications. This review comprehensively discusses the principles, types, materials, applications, advantages, limitations, regulatory considerations, and future perspectives of 3D printing in pharmaceuticals. The review also highlights the role of pharmacists and healthcare professionals in implementing personalized drug therapy through additive manufacturing.
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