3D printing of medicines moves a step closer

Journal of Controlled Release

Two recent papers from the School have shown the potential of 3D printing as a manufacturing method to produce a complex tablet which is not possible to produce using current technologies. The first is in International Journal of Pharmaceutics, showing how alternative release mechanisms could be achieved in a single tablet and the second in Journal of Controlled Release, showing the practical realization of a ‘polypill’. Being able to produce multiple drugs in one tablet or polypill could significantly improve patient compliance through reduced tablet burden. Polypills become even more valuable, if the loaded drugs have independent release kinetics. The paper in Journal of Controlled Release,which made the front cover of this journal, demonstrates the manufacture of a 5-drug polypill that provides a dosage regime that would be applicable in the treatment of cardiac disease. Prof Kinam Park of Purdue University, USA commenting on this work in his editorial, said “It is hoped that the new, exciting 3D printing process of polypills described by the Roberts team becomes a truly useful new tablet manufacturing process ready for the personalized medicine in the near future.”