Extrusion-based 3D printing of oral solid dosage forms: Material requirements and equipment dependencies

Extrusion-based 3D printing is steadily gaining importance as a manufacturing technique due to its flexibility and wide range of possible end-products. In the medical field, being exploited for variety applications one these production personalised medicines. However, despite many proof-of-concept studies, more thorough insights in itself required material properties are needed before can be fully hospital or pharmacy setting. This research aims at clarifying complex interplay between properties, process parameters printer-dependent variables. A different polymers polymer-drug blends were extruded (diameter 1.75±0.05 mm) characterised terms mechanical, thermal rheological properties. These together with processing temperature, speeds nozzle diameters printer linked quality end-product. Different failure mechanisms (mechanical, thermal) assessed. Decisive (e.g. cross-over point) optimal behaviour construction (nozzle diameter) clarified. general, this study offers insight into will help speed up future pharmaceutical formulation development printlets.