Inkjet printing of a thermolabile model drug onto FDM-printed substrates: formulation and evaluation

Abstract

Objective

The inkjet printing (IP) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) technologies have emerged in the pharmaceutical field as novel and personalized formulation approaches. Specific manufacturing factors must be considered in each adopted methodology, i.e. the development of suitable substrates for IP and the incorporation of highly thermostable active pharmaceutical compounds (APIs) for FDM. In this study, IP and FDM printing technologies were investigated for the fabrication of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-based mucoadhesive films for the buccal delivery of a thermolabile model drug.

Significance: This proof-of-concept approach was expected to provide an alternative formulation methodology for personalized mucoadhesive buccal films.

Methods

Mucoadhesive substrates were prepared by FDM and were subjected to sequential IP of an ibuprofen-loaded liquid ink. The interactions between these processes and the performance of the films were evaluated by various analytical and spectroscopic techniques, as well as by in vitro and ex vivo studies.

Results

The model drug was efficiently deposited by sequential IP passes onto the FDM-printed substrates. Significant variations were revealed on the morphological, physicochemical and mechanical properties of the prepared films, and linked to the number of IP passes. The mechanism of drug release, the mucoadhesion and the permeation of the drug through the buccal epithelium were evaluated, in view of the extent of ink deposition onto the buccal films, as well as the distribution of the API.

Conclusions

The presented methodology provided a proof-of-concept formulation approach for the development of personalized mucoadhesive films.

Keywords:

• Inkjet printing
• 2D printing
• fused deposition modeling
• 3D printing
• buccal delivery
• mucoadhesion
• mucoadhesive films
• hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
• permeation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund, ESF) through the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning” in the context of the project “Strengthening Human Resources Research Potential via Doctorate Research” [MIS-5000432], which is implemented by the State Scholarships Foundation (ΙΚΥ).