News

New biomaterials for 3D printing of drugs

31 March 2023
biomateriales para la impresión 3D

“Printable biomaterials from natural polymers to produce a new generation of pharmaceuticals”

TECNALIA is working with EKOLBER to research new innovative biomaterials for 3D printing of drugs

TECNALIA researches and develops new printable biomaterials, based on natural polymers from EKOLBER, which can be processed by additive manufacturing technologies to produce a new generation of pharmaceuticals. This work improves the competitiveness of the Basque industry in the pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors.

Improving drug efficacy and safety

Over the past decade, patient-centred drug development has been garnering attention. The concepts of “patient-specific” or “personalised” dosing have emerged as an alternative to traditional production in the pharmaceutical industry. When a drug is administered, the results vary from one patient to another, mainly due to differences in background, metabolism and genetics. The trend in drug development is moving away from mass production and towards personalised dosing. As the pharmaceutical industry moves away from traditional production towards a more personalised model, 3D printing of drugs has the potential to revolutionise the market.

The main benefit of using 3D printing technology for personalised pharmaceuticals is the ability to produce small batches with carefully tailored dosages, shapes, sizes and release characteristics. It also allows to add flavours without needing a film coating, completely masking the taste of chemical compounds and even developing chewable medicines to meet the needs of patients with swallowing difficulties, such as children and the elderly.

On-demand drug production

3D printers can be installed in pharmacies, hospitals, clinics and remote locations: this enables on-demand drug production, especially those with low stability or cold chain storage requirements. For pharmaceutical companies, 3D printing significantly reduces costs, waste and environmental burden, as printers only deposit the exact amount of raw materials required.