Successful 3D-printing of paracetamol in seconds
University College London (UCL) scientists have accomplished three-dimensional (3D)-printing of medicines in just 17 seconds as opposed to several minutes.
A typical 3D printing process involves extruding resin layer-by-layer to form a structure – adding to this process, the UCL scientists used a vat photopolymerisation technique, whereby the resin contains dissolved drugs (paracetamol or acetaminophen) and a photoreactive chemical, which can be solidified by light during printing to form a tablet.
By manipulating the intensity of the light, the entire printing process was successfully shortened to mere seconds.
In addition, the UCL scientists could also fine-tune the drug release rates of the tablets, another of the many benefits of the process. Shorter drug release rates even enabled some tablets to be printed in as little as seven seconds in some cases.
Though paracetamol was used as the model drug in the experiments, the scientists envision the technology being used in fast-paced clinical settings, which patients could turn to for medicines tailored to their individual needs.
Category: Features, Technology & Devices
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