3D printing of immediate-release tablets containing olanzapine by filaments extrusion

Abstract

In this work, hot-melt extrusion (HME) is coupled with fused deposition modeling (FDM) mediated 3D printing to demonstrate additive manufacturing to fabricate immediate release (IR) prototypes of olanzapine with the aim of enhanced solubility using a fast disintegrating polymer (Kollicoat^® IR). Drug-polymer solubility and interaction parameters were estimated by Hansen solubility parameters and Hildebrand–Scott equation. The obtained values signified drug–polymer miscibility. The detailed in vitro physicochemical evaluations of the developed filament through HME and its derived 3D printed tablet by FDM technique were assessed thoroughly by several analytical means such as light microscopy, DSC, XRD, FT-IR, SEM, etc. The average disintegration time of this developed 3D printed IR tablet was found to be 63.33 (±3.6) sec complying with the USP limit. Additionally, in vitro dissolution study data revealed almost close correlations and both showed 100% of drug release within 15 min, thus complying with the definition of IR tablet. Thus, this study demonstrates the feasibility of directly using olanzapine-Kollicoat^® IR through the HME process without the addition of any plasticizers, organic solvents, etc. and coupling of HME with 3D printing technology allowing prototypes of IR tablet of olanzapine.

Keywords:

• Hot-melt extrusion
• fused deposition modeling
• 3D printing
• olanzapine
• immediate-release tablets

Acknowledgments

The author sincerely acknowledges the financial support received from DPRP, DST, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India through a National Facility (State-of-the-art infrastructure) project entitled ‘Establishment of a National Centre of Pharmacoengineering for designing innovative delivery strategies to fight neglected diseases’ vide File No: VI-D&P/646/2018-19/TDT.

XRD and FESEM studies were supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India [Grant 5(9)/2012- NANO, Vol. IV] through the Centre for Nanotechnology (CNT), IIT Guwahati, Assam, which is greatly acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work is funded through a National Facility (State-of-the-art infrastructure) project entitled ‘Establishment of a National Centre of Pharmacoengineering for designing innovative delivery strategies to fight neglected diseases’ vide File No: VI-D&P/646/2018-19/TDT by the Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Research Programme (DPRP), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.