Pharmaceutical 3D Printing: Revolutionizing Medications for Children
Introduction
Imagine a world where convincing children to take their medications becomes much easier. Thanks to researchers at Texas A&M University, this may soon become a reality. They are currently developing a new pharmaceutical 3D printing method specifically catered to pediatric patients. By creating precisely dosed tablets in kid-friendly shapes and flavors, they hope to improve medication adherence among children. While initially focused on two pediatric AIDS drugs, this innovative printing process has the potential to revolutionize the production of other medications for both kids and adults.
Exciting Developments in Pharmaceutical 3D Printing
The researchers at Texas A&M are not the only ones exploring the possibilities of pharmaceutical 3D printing. Teams of researchers from prestigious institutions around the globe, including Brittany, Australia, and the University of Texas at Austin, are also pioneering in the field of 3D printed medications. This emerging technology holds immense potential in the quest for personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to the unique needs of each patient.
Challenges Faced by Pediatric Patients
Mass-produced drugs often fail to address the unique requirements of pediatric patients, who frequently need different doses and combinations of medications as they grow. As a result, adult tablets are frequently crushed and dissolved in liquid, known as compounding, to be administered to children. Unfortunately, this process compromises the quality of the drugs and leads to less accurate dosages, posing risks to the well-being of young patients.
Overcoming Medication Challenges
The development of pharmaceutical 3D printing offers a promising solution to the challenges faced by pediatric patients. By utilizing this advanced technology, medication doses can be precisely manufactured to meet specific pediatric requirements without the need for compounding. This eliminates the risk of inaccurate dosages and degraded drug quality, ensuring optimal treatment outcomes for young patients.
The Innovative Solvent-Free Approach
While the FDA approved a 3D printed drug back in 2015, progress in this field has been relatively slow. The earlier method relied on solvents to bind the drug particles together, which had limitations due to solvent-induced compromises in drug quality over time. The researchers at Texas A&M, however, are utilizing a solvent-free method to overcome this issue. Their approach involves creating a powdered mixture of the drug, a biocompatible polymer like lactose, glitter for pigmentation and heat absorption, and even flavoring if desired. The mixture is then heated in the printer chamber, allowing the polymer to melt and provide structural integrity to the printed tablets. Laser heat applications are used to ensure the tablets retain their shape, and through careful experimentation, the researchers have successfully printed tablets that are resistant to breakage and seepage.
Customization and Precision
One of the greatest advantages of pharmaceutical 3D printing is the ability to create tablets in virtually any shape. Using computer-aided design software, researchers can print tablets that resemble stars or teddy bears, making them more appealing to children. Furthermore, the printing process allows for precise control over the drug’s dissolution rate. By adjusting the laser scanning speed, the structure of the tablet can be strengthened, resulting in slower drug release. This enables sustained or extended-release formulations to be incorporated into the tablets, maximizing therapeutic effects and improving treatment outcomes.
Beyond Pediatric Medication
While the focus of pharmaceutical 3D printing is initially on pediatric AIDS drugs, its potential applications extend far beyond the realm of pediatrics. Older patients who require multiple medications on a daily basis can benefit from this technology as well. Personalized tablets could be printed at local pharmacies, eliminating the need to wait for prescriptions to be filled. This convenience could significantly improve medication adherence and simplify treatment regimens for individuals with complex medication schedules.
The Future of Personalized Medicine
As the field of pharmaceutical 3D printing continues to advance, machine learning models can be developed to optimize tablet formulation and drug combinations. With time, it may be possible to create tablets that contain different drugs with varying dissolution rates within a single tablet. This opens up new possibilities for tailored therapies that address multiple conditions simultaneously, enhancing patient convenience and treatment effectiveness.
Conclusion
Pharmaceutical 3D printing is an exciting frontier that holds tremendous potential for improving medication administration, especially among pediatric patients. The cutting-edge printing methods being developed by researchers at Texas A&M University and other institutions around the world have the power to revolutionize healthcare practices. By customizing medications to suit individual needs and preferences, 3D printing can enhance treatment outcomes, minimize risks, and ultimately improve the quality of life for patients of all ages.
Summary
In summary, researchers at Texas A&M University are making significant strides in the field of pharmaceutical 3D printing. Their focus on developing precisely dosed tablets in kid-friendly shapes and flavors for pediatric patients is expected to revolutionize the administration of medications to children. This innovative approach eliminates the need for compounding and ensures accurate dosages, enhancing treatment outcomes. However, the potential of pharmaceutical 3D printing extends beyond pediatrics, with applications in personalized medicine for all age groups. By customizing medications and optimizing drug combinations, this technology has the power to streamline treatment regimens, improve medication adherence, and enhance patient well-being.
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September 7, 2023: Convincing children to take their medicines could be much easier. Researchers at Texas A&M University are developing a new pharmaceutical 3D printing method with pediatric patients in mind.
They hope to print precisely dosed tablets in kid-friendly shapes and flavors. While the effort is focused on two pediatric AIDS drugs, the process could be used to print other drugs, including for adults.
researchers from Brittany, Australiaand the University of Texas at Austin They are also in the early stages of 3D printed drug projects. It is an up-and-coming company in the broader pursuit of “personalized medicine,” tailoring treatments to the unique needs of each patient.
Mass-produced drugs fail to address pediatric patients, who often need different doses and combinations of drugs as they grow. As a result, adult tablets are often crushed and dissolved in liquid (known as a compound) and given to children. But this can hurt the quality of the drugs and make dosages less accurate.
“Suppose the child needs 3.4 milligrams and only one 10-milligram tablet is available. Once you manipulate the dose from solid to liquid, how do you ensure it contains the same amount of medication?” saying co-principal investigator Mansoor Khan, PhD, professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Texas A&M.
Most pharmacies lack the equipment to test the quality of compounded drugs, he said. And liquefied drugs taste bad because the pill shell has been removed.
“Taste is a big problem,” he said. olive eckstein, MD, assistant professor of pediatric hematology and oncology at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, who is not involved in the research. “Hospitals sometimes delay the discharge of pediatric patients because they cannot take their medications orally and have to receive an intravenous formulation.”
Pharmaceutical 3D Printing Update
The FDA approved a 3D printed drug in 2015, but since then, progress has stalled, largely because the method relied on solvents to bind the drug particles together. Over time, solvents can compromise useful life, according to co-principal investigator Mathew Kuttolamadodom, PhD, an associate professor of engineering at Texas A&M.
The Texas A&M team is using a different, solvent-free method. First, they create a powdered mixture of the drug, a biocompatible polymer (such as lactose), and glitter, a pigment that colors the tablet and allows heat to be absorbed. You can also add flavoring. The mixture is then heated in the printer chamber.
“The polymer should melt enough. That gives the tablet structural strength. But it shouldn’t melt too much, so that the drug can start to dissolve in the polymer,” Kuttolamadom said.
The tablets are finished with precise applications of laser heat. Using computer-aided design software, researchers can create tablets in almost any shape, like “stars or teddy bears,” she said.
After much trial and error, researchers have printed tablets that don’t break or soak through.
They are now testing how different laser scanning speeds affect the structure of the tablet, which in turn affects the speed at which the drugs dissolve. Reducing the speed of the laser imparts more energy, strengthening the structure of the tablet and causing the drugs to dissolve more slowly, for a longer release within the body.
The researchers hope to develop machine learning models to test different combinations of laser speeds. Over time, they could create tablets that combine drugs with different dissolution rates.
“The outside could be fast release and the inside could be extended or sustained release, or even a completely different drug,” Kuttolamadom said.
Older patients who take many medications daily could benefit from this technology. “Personalized tablets can be printed at your local pharmacy,” she said, “before you even leave your doctor’s office.”
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