Introduction
UCLan research has produced a solid dosage form printing apparatus for printing solid dosage forms including an active ingredient. The active ingredient may be pharmaceutical, nutraceutical or a food supplement.
The apparatus includes an FFF 3D printer which prints onto a build platform where the solid dosage form is printed. The apparatus also requires an active ingredient-containing printing filament which includes the active ingredient and an active ingredient carrier and one or more extrusion nozzles through which the active ingredient-containing printing filament can be extruded; The apparatus requires a computer for controlling the FFF 3D printer and potentially also controlling the build platform.
UCLan research has a suite of patents which all relate to the principal of 3D printing of solid dosage forms. The patents are available individually, or in a package. This case is the key patent in this suite which may be required to practice some of the other patents. As a result of this portfolio, UCLan can’t license this patent exclusively alone, due to the connection with the other patents.
This research enables the production of solid dosage forms according to need, as opposed to the present practice of producing tablets in standard forms, which can lead to the requirement for tablets to be split and in some cases for ‘specials to be made by pharmacists.
The ability to produce the solid dosage forms according to need will enable for particular requirements to be considered when the solid dosage forms are produced. This would be particularly useful in paediatric medicine, where Patients may require significantly differing dosages.
Other areas where this may be of particular interest include where numerous active ingredients are required for a patient, it may be possible to print all the active ingredients in one solid dosage form, or where patients struggle to swallow big solid dosage forms, increasing the concentration of the active ingredient to allow smaller solid dosage forms.
Core Advantages
The methods allow the production of dose-customisable solid dosage forms on-demand. This enables the production of high dose of actives, minimal input and output variables, minimal input ingredients or elements, minimal complexity, and maximum storage stability for both input materials and products.
The methods allow for a system that is suitable for regulatory approval and which may be used in pharmacies or other approved customised drug manufacturing facilities.
Provide a means to allow more aesthetic customisation of solid dosage forms without loss of resolution or functional and structural integrity. This may be particularly attractive for children and may facilitate patient compliance.
Provide a method of producing solid dosage forms to facilitate prototyping and formulation research and development as a development tool in the pharmaceutical industry.
Application
Patient-tailored dosing system: This technology can be the base for a complete service where pharmacist can tailor the dose and drug release to suit a particular patient. The pharmacist could control of the dose and release pattern through software.
Rapid prototyping and digitalizing dosage form design: the product has the potential to accelerate the R&D process for solid dosage forms. The filament allows for a high level of variation for dose, volume, shape, coating thinness. This allows for experimental solid dosage forms to be produced in rapidly with minimal expertise.