Date of Award
1-1-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. in Pharmaceutical Science
First Advisor
Mohammed Maniruzzaman
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
This study aimed to explore potential use of pneumatic-based thermoplastic 3D bioprinter to create personalized tablets in a single-step process. In investigates the development of a single pill containing two model drugs: Metformin HCl (a highly soluble drug) for extended-release and Atorvastatin Calcium Trihydrate (a low-solubility drug) for immediate release with enhanced solubility. To achieve this, Eudragit RSPO as extended-release polymer and Polyethylene Oxide (PEO N10) as immediate release polymer was used, and the tablets were fabricated using Direct Powder Extrusion (DPE) Technology with pneumatic-based thermoplastic print heads. Key processing parameters, such as nozzle printing speed, infill density, printhead temperature, print bed temperature, and external pressure, were carefully optimized to ensure that the fabricated tablets met the desired specifications. The tablets were designed in an oval shape and printed using a rectilinear pattern with 25% and 100% infill densities to study the impact of infill on drug release. After printing, the tablets were thoroughly characterized using advanced analytical techniques, including Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Mass Spectrophotometry (MS) and drug content assessment and in vitro dissolution studies. These tests helped evaluate the tablets’ thermal stability, drug-polymer interactions, surface morphology, drug content and drug release profiles. For Metformin HCl, the MET-1 to MET-7 formulations showed excellent printability, with the MET-7 formulation achieving about 90% drug release over 10 hours, making it suitable for extended-release applications. For Atorvastatin Calcium, the ACT-2, ACT-3, ACT-4, ACT-7, ACT-10, and ACT-11 formulations demonstrated good printability, with the ACT-11 formulation releasing 89% of the drug within 30 minutes in a pH 6.8 phosphate buffer, meeting the criteria for immediate release. Overall, this study highlights the potential use of Direct Powder Extrusion based 3D printing as a groundbreaking technology for producing personalized tablets. By combining the benefits of hot-melt extrusion and fused deposition modeling into an alternative single-step process, this approach offers a versatile and efficient method for creating customized drug delivery systems tailored to individual patient needs for personalized medication.
Recommended Citation
Anekalla, Thirupathi reddy, "Personalized 3D-Printed Tablets for Diabetes and Related Complications: Design, Optimization, and Evaluation" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3229.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/3229