Guide: October 5, 2021, Pharmaceutical3D printingExpert FabRX collaborates with researchers from University College London (UCL) and University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) in Spain,3D printingA new type of drug deliveryMedical treatmentEquipment for the treatment of dry eye.The team uses digital light processing (DLP)3D printingMethod to produce drip plugs, which are small medical devices inserted into the lacrimal duct of the eye to block the lacrimal duct and prevent fluid from draining.This kind of3D printingThe drip plugs containing dexamethasone (an anti-inflammatory drug) are designed to relieve the symptoms of dry eye and provide an alternative treatment for traditional topical administration (such as eye drops).
△DLP3D printingProcess and internal flow device model for in vitro dissolution studies. The picture comes from MDPI.
FabRx3D printingdrug
FabRx is a subsidiary of UCL, they use3D printingTechnology has been developing personalized medicines and drug delivery devices for some time.Although the technology is still largely under development, it isclinicalPharmaceutical drug development provides several significant advantages, such as the ability to customize the production of drugs according to the needs of individual patients, speed up the delivery of drugs, and provide hospitals, pharmacies and people in hard-to-reach areas with the possibility of on-demand medication.Prior to this, FabRx worked with UCL and the University of Southern California in this field to develop personalized medicines for children suffering from the rare metabolic disease maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). In 2019, these two partners produced3D printingThe chewable tablets are called Printlets. Compared with the traditional treatment of MSUD disease, it has similar curative effects, but the acceptance rate of patients is higher.
Soon thereafter, FabRX launched the M3DIMAKER for the first time at ILMAC in Switzerland 3D printingmachine. This desktop-sized FFF system is specially designed to manufacture personalized drug delivery devices according to the dosage required by the clinician.Last year, FabRx used SLS 3D printingThe process produced Printlets with Braille and moon patterns on the surface to help patients with visual impairment take medicine. A paper was recently published to evaluate3D printingThe current status of the drug and the clinical potential of the technology.
△The three-dimensional design of the point plug made by the researcher. The picture comes from MDPI.
Fight against dry eye
In their latest collaboration, FabRx, UCL and USC discussed3D printingHow medical devices provide alternative treatments for dry eye. Dry eye is a common chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Dry eye occurs due to insufficient tear secretion or increased tear film evaporation. If left untreated, it can lead to infectious diseases such as corneal inflammation and conjunctivitis.Dry eye is usually treated by topical administration methods, such as eye drops. However, according to FabRx, the eye area of this formulabiologyUtilization (referring to the proportion of drugs that enter the circulation after entering the body) is often very low.
The use of acupoint plugs is a non-invasive treatment strategy for relieving dry eye. Its function is to block the lacrimal duct, prevent the outflow of tear fluid, and improve the stability of the tear film.Based on photopolymerization3D printingTechnologies, such as DLP, have excellent feature resolution and smooth surface finish, and because they operate at room temperature, they can also avoid thermal degradation of drugs in medical devices.
DLP 3D printingThe technology can also prepare puncture plugs of various sizes, shapes, and drug dosages in one step. Therefore, the partners tried to evaluate its ability over traditionally manufactured puncture plugs and topical drug delivery methods.
△DLP 3D printingOptical images of (a) D10, (b) D10PEG, (c) D20 and (d) D20PEG point plugs. The picture comes from MDPI.
3D printingDrip stopper
During the research period, the researcher used direct DLP 3D printing, Different formulations of drug-loaded dot plugs were prepared in polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel. These puncture plugs are designed to be inserted into the puncture site of the eye, and their structure is similar to the puncture plugs on the market, with a length of 1-2 mm and a diameter of 0.2-1 mm.Use commercial DLP 3D printingThe machine, the Titan2HR system, successfully printed these dotted plugs with different levels of dexamethasone. According to FabRx, these devices are produced with good resolution and repeatability, and are characterized by a tapered shaft for easy insertion and removal.
In just 20 minutes, more than 20 piercing plugs can be produced in one print, which obviously shows3D printingThe technology’s ability to manufacture small batches of personalized drug delivery devices.The researchers tested their3D printingPoint stopper. The complete long-term drug release of dexamethasone is achieved within 4 to 11 days, depending on the amount and formulation of the drug in the puncture plug. For example, in vitro tests have shown that the drug contained in D10PEG and D20PEG point plugs can be released for one week, while D10 and D20 plugs can extend the drug release time, releasing 50% of dexamethasone within 5 days and 11 days, respectively.
According to partners, DLP is 3D printingIt provides a high degree of flexibility in customizing the size, shape and material of the plug to adapt to the needs of different patients. The study also shows that drug-releasing punctate plugs may benefit a range of eye diseases, including open-angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension, and bacterial conjunctivitis.
△DLP3D printingSEM images of (a) D10, (b) D20, (c) D10PEG and (d) D20PEG puncture plugs. The picture comes from MDPI.
More information about this research can be found in the paper titled “3D Printed Punctal Plugs for Controlled Ocular Drug Delivery” published in MDPI Pharmaceutics. The co-authors of the study are X. Xu, S. Awwad, L. Diaz-
gom
ez, C. Alvarez-Lorenzo, S. Brocchini, S. Gaisford, A. Goyanes and A. Basit.
Links to related papers:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/9/1421/htm
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