**3.3 Inkjet printing**

It is a powder-based 3D printing that utilizes powder as a substrate on which layer by layer different combinations of active ingredients and ink is sprayed which is of varying droplet size that eventually solidifies into solid dosage form [9, 19, 24–28].

#### **3.4 Direct-wise**

It encompasses a pattern-generating device that moves as per the guidance of computer-controlled translational stage so that layers after layers are put on in order to achieve a 3D microstructure [29].

## **3.5 Zip dose**

This technology provides a personalized dose in additional to the delivery of a high drug-load with high disintegration and dissolution levels by manufacturing highly porous material [25].

#### **3.6 Vat photopolymerization**

It is light-induced polymerization where materials like photopolymers, radiation-curable resins, and liquid are collected in vats, which are successively cured into layers, one layer at a time by irradiating with a light source, thereby providing a 2D patterned layer. This involves techniques such as stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), and continuous direct light processing (CDLP).

**143**

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

1.Bath configuration (free surface approach)

more accuracy, and reliability [7].

inexpensive [46, 47].

as per need [19].

2.Bat configuration (constrained surface approach) [2].

great boon to patients as well as physicians [7].

of dosage and multi-dosing [44, 48, 49].

**Disadvantages of 3D Printing**:

**4. Medical applications of 3D printing**

**4.1 Bioprinting of tissues and organs**

precise viscosity [50].

materials [52].

**Advantages of 3D printing in the pharmaceutical field**:

configurations:

Depending on the orientation of light source and the surface where polymerization of the photoactive resin occurs, SLA can be divided into two different

1.**Enhanced productivity:** 3D printing works more quickly in contrast to traditional methods especially when it comes to fabrication of items like prosthetics and implants with an additional benefit of better resolution, repeatability,

2.**Customization and personalization:** One of the pioneer benefits of this technology is the liberty of fabrication of customized medical equipment and products. Customized implants, prosthetics, surgical tools, fixtures can be a

3.**Increased cost efficiency:** Objects produced by 3D printing are of low cost. It is an advantage for small-scale production units or for companies that produce highly complex products or parts because almost all ingredients are

By eradicating the use of unnecessary resources, manufacturing cost can also be reduced. For instance, 20-mg tablets could be potentially formulated as 1-mg tablets

4. 3DP allows controlled size of droplets, complex drug release profiles, strength

1.In inkjet printing, proper flow of ink can only be achieved with ink that has

2.Ink formulation material should have the property of self-binding but should not bind to other printer elements. In some formulation when the ink does not possess adequate self-binding property or it binds with other elements of printer then the resultant formulation does not have required hardness [51].

3.Rate of drug release may get affected due to binding of ink with other printer

One of the critical medical issues is the failure of organs and tissues as a result of accident, congenital defects, aging etc (**Figure 1**) and the current resolution for this problem is organ transplant from dead or living donors. However, only few

*Pharmaceutical Formulation Design - Recent Practices*

**3D printing technology** 

**used**

**Table 2.**

**3.2 Thermal inkjet (TIJ) printing**

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

to achieve a 3D microstructure [29].

highly porous material [25].

**3.6 Vat photopolymerization**

**3.3 Inkjet printing**

[9, 19, 24–28].

**3.4 Direct-wise**

**3.5 Zip dose**

It involves the heating of ink fluid by the help of micro-resistor, thereby creating a bubble of vapor that nucleates and upon expansion forces the ink to drop out of the nozzle. Dispensing of extemporaneous preparation/solution of drug onto 3D

Binder jet printing Tabular devices Methylene blue and alizarin yellow

Inkjet 3D printing Implant Levofloxacin [43] 3D printing machine Multidrug implant Rifampicin and isoniazid [44] Inkjet 3D printing Nanosuspension Folic acid [45] Thermal inkjet (TIJ) printing Solution Salbutamol sulfate [22] Inkjet 3D printing Nanoparticle Rifampicin [27]

**Formulations API Ref.**

Cubic tabular devices Pseudoephedrine [40]

Orodispersible tablets Levetiracetam [42]

[39]

[41]

(dyes)

Tablets Chlorpheniramine meleate and fluorescein

It is a powder-based 3D printing that utilizes powder as a substrate on which layer by layer different combinations of active ingredients and ink is sprayed which is of varying droplet size that eventually solidifies into solid dosage form

It encompasses a pattern-generating device that moves as per the guidance of computer-controlled translational stage so that layers after layers are put on in order

This technology provides a personalized dose in additional to the delivery of a high drug-load with high disintegration and dissolution levels by manufacturing

It is light-induced polymerization where materials like photopolymers, radiation-curable resins, and liquid are collected in vats, which are successively cured into layers, one layer at a time by irradiating with a light source, thereby providing a 2D patterned layer. This involves techniques such as stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), and continuous direct light processing (CDLP).

scaffolds is an area where this technique can be employed [22, 23].

**142**

Depending on the orientation of light source and the surface where polymerization of the photoactive resin occurs, SLA can be divided into two different configurations:

