Applications of the design of additive manufacturing (DfAM) in the development of pharmaceutical dosage forms

An increasing number of pharmaceutical formulations are currently being developed via 3D printing, which has placed growing importance on design for 3D printing. 3D printing technology enables the creation of custom parts and devices in geometrically complex and composite materials that cannot be produced using traditional manufacturing methods. To fully take advantage of these capabilities, design for 3D printing, also known as design for additive manufacturing (DfAM), is required.

This paper provides a variety of examples of how DfAM is being applied and utilized in the pharmaceutical field to produce pharmaceuticals using 3D printing, including oral solid dosage forms, microneedles, implants, and more.

The integration of DfAM factors into the formulation of 3D printed pharmaceuticals enables the production of complex structures, the incorporation of multiple APIs for controlled drug release, and the integration of multiple functionalities into a single dosage form, none of which can be attained through traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing. 3D printing could be a complementary tool for producing different drug dosage forms or patient-tailored formulations that are difficult to produce using traditional pharmaceutical production systems.