研究目的

To provide an overview of the selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing technology and its pharmaceutical applications, highlighting the advantages and challenges of adopting this method for the fabrication of personalized medicines.

研究成果

SLS 3D printing offers a promising approach for the fabrication of personalized medicines, with advantages such as solvent-free processing and minimal post-processing steps. However, challenges related to material requirements and thermal stability need to be addressed. The technology has potential applications in producing dosage forms for pediatric, geriatric, or special populations, and in developing specialized dosage forms like amorphous solid dispersions and abuse deterrent formulations. Regulatory pathways for SLS printed formulations are available, and as the technology evolves, cGMP compliant printers for pharmaceutical applications are expected to become available.

研究不足

The major challenges of the SLS technology include the requirement of at least one thermoplastic component in the formulation and the thermal stability of drug and excipients. Other limitations are the recycling/reuse of unprinted raw material after the printing process, the impact of recycling on the quality and purity of materials, and the need for in-process monitoring to ensure product quality.