Eric Ofosu Kissi (1), Robin Nilsson (2), Liebert Parreiras Nogueira (3), Anette Larsson (2), Ingunn Tho (1)
Molecules, 26, Issue 15, July 2021: 4492. DOI: 10.3390/molecules26154492

Keywords

3D printing; additive manufacturing; fused deposition modelling; hot-melt extrusion; X-ray computed microtomography; glass solution

Abstract

Fused deposition modelling-based 3D printing of pharmaceutical products is facing challenges like brittleness and printability of the drug-loaded hot-melt extruded filament feedstock and stabilization of the solid-state form of the drug in the final product. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the drug load on printability and physical stability. The poor glass former naproxen (NAP) was hot-melt extruded with Kollidon® VA 64 at 10–30% w/w drug load. The extrudates (filaments) were characterised using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was confirmed that an amorphous solid dispersion was formed. A temperature profile was developed based on the results from TGA, DSC, and DMA and temperatures used for 3D printing were selected from the profile. The 3D-printed tablets were characterised using DSC, X-ray computer microtomography (XµCT), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). From the DSC and XRPD analysis, it was found that the drug in the 3D-printed tablets (20 and 30% NAP) was amorphous and remained amorphous after 23 weeks of storage (room temperature (RT), 37% relative humidity (RH)). This shows that adjusting the drug ratio can modulate the brittleness and improve printability without compromising the physical stability of the amorphous solid dispersion.

How Our Software Was Used

Dragonfly was used for 3D rendering.

Author Affiliation

(1) Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box, 1068 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
(2) Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivagen 10, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden.
(3) Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box, 1109 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway.