**3. Types of 3D printing technology**

#### **3.1 Fused deposition modeling (FDM)**

The process involves the selection of the desired polymer, which is melted and forced through a movable heated nozzle. Along the entire 3 axis (i.e., x-y-z), the polymer is laid down layer by layer, which on solidification gives the exact shape as was designed by computer aided design models. Multiple dosage forms like implants, zero-order release tablets etc. that include polymer as a part of their formulation can be made by this method [9, 19–21].

**141**

**Table 1.**

**used**

(SLS)

(FDM)

**3D printing technology** 

Selective layer sintering

Fused deposition modeling

*3D Printing in Pharmaceutical Sector: An Overview DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90738*

1980 Dr. Hideo Kodama filed first patent for RP technology

1989 Patent was granted to Carl Deckard for SLA

biomaterials and his own cells 2000 MCP technologies introduced the SLM technology 2002 Miniature functional kidney was fabricated

2005 First color 3D printer was introduced by Z Corp

2011 3D printing was applied in gold and silver

2012 Extrusion-based bioprinting for an artificial liver 3D printed prosthetic jaw was implanted 2013 SolidConcepts produced a 3D printed metal gun

2015 First 3D printed pill was approved by US FDA

Semi-solid extrusion (SSE) Bi-layered tablets

*Historical development in the field of 3D printing (table adapted from Ref. [8]).*

(polypill)

Multiactive tablets (polypill)

Stereolithography (SLA) Hydrogels Ibuprofen [32]

2003 Term organ printing was coined

1992 First SLA machine was produced using 3D system 1993 3D printing patent was granted to E.M Sachs

1996 Clinical application of biomaterials for tissue regeneration

1990 Fused deposition modeling (FDM)

1984 Stereo lithography apparatus (SLA) was invented by Charles Hull

1986 Carl Deckard invented apparatus for producing parts by selective sintering

1999 Luke Massella received first 3D printed bladder which was an amalgamation of 3D printed

2004 Dr. Bowyer conceived the RepRap concept of an open-source, self-replicating 3D printer

2014 Implementation of multi-arm bioprinter to integrate tissue fabrication with printed vasculature

**Formulations API Ref.**

Facial mask Salicylic acid [33]

Tablets Paracetamol [34] Drug delivery device Progesterone [35]

Caplets Caffeine [36] Tablets Hydrochlorothiazide [37] Oral films Aripiprazole [38]

captopril

Nifedipine, Glipizide, and

Guaifenesin [30]

[31]

Organovo announced the release of data on the first fully bioprinted kidney

2007 Selective layer customization and on-demand manufacturing of industrial parts 2009 Organovo, Inc., announced the release of data on the first fully bioprinted blood vessels

World's first 3D printed car, robotic aircarft was introduced

**Year Major development**

### *3D Printing in Pharmaceutical Sector: An Overview DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90738*

*Pharmaceutical Formulation Design - Recent Practices*

**2. 3D printing procedure**

is present in the (.STL) file [2].

installed in the 3D printer (**Tables 1–2**).

In subtractive methodology or conventional method, the product is designed from

First, a virtual 3D design of an object using digital design software like Onshape,

This digital model is then converted to (.STL) digital file format which stands

Triangulated facets give information regarding the surface of the 3D model that

The (.STL) file is converted into G file by slicing the design into a series of 2D horizontal cross-sections by the help of specialized slicer software, which is

Now the print head is moved in the x-y axis to create the base of the 3D object.

The print head is now allowed to move in the z-axis, thereby depositing the layers sequentially of the desired material, hence creating a complete 3D object

Maximum numbers of 3D printing technologies are compatible with (.STL) file format. Some errors might occur during the conversion of the 3D model to .STL digital file; therefore, software like Magics (Materialise) can be employed to correct the errors during conversion. File formats other than .STL like additive manufacturing file format (AMF) and 3D manufacturing format (3MF) are used as .STL does not have information regarding the type of material, its color, texture, properties,

The process involves the selection of the desired polymer, which is melted and forced through a movable heated nozzle. Along the entire 3 axis (i.e., x-y-z), the polymer is laid down layer by layer, which on solidification gives the exact shape as was designed by computer aided design models. Multiple dosage forms like implants, zero-order release tablets etc. that include polymer as a part of their

the bulk substance and due to non-advanced tools used non-standard geometries and objects made from many materials cannot be made with high quality [11, 12]. In contrast to the conventional method, 3DP technology is more automated, rapid and

easy to use, customized and sophisticated and cost-effective [13–15].

for standard tessallation language or stereolithography [2].

Solidworks, Creo parametric, Autocad, Autodesk etc. is created [2, 16, 17].

**140**

[2, 9].

and other features [18].

**3. Types of 3D printing technology**

**3.1 Fused deposition modeling (FDM)**

formulation can be made by this method [9, 19–21].


#### **Table 1.**

*Historical development in the field of 3D printing (table adapted from Ref. [8]).*



#### **Table 2.**

*Pharmaceutical preparations that were developed by 3DP technology.*
