Formulation of 3D Printed Tablet for Rapid Drug Release
The primary aim of this study was to identify pharmaceutically acceptable amorphous polymers for producing 3D printed tablets of a model drug, haloperidol, for rapid release by fused deposition modeling (FDM). Filaments for 3D printing were prepared by hot melt extrusion at 150°C with 10 and 20% w/w of haloperidol using Kollidon® VA64, Kollicoat® IR, Affinsiol™15 cP and HPMCAS either individually or as binary blends (Kollidon® VA64+Affinisol™15 cP, 1:1; Kollidon® VA64+HPMCAS, 1:1). Dissolution of crushed extrudates was studied at pH 2 and 6.8, and formulations demonstrating rapid dissolution rates were then analyzed for drug-polymer, polymer-polymer and drug-polymer-polymer miscibility by film casting. Polymer-polymer (1:1) and drug-polymer-polymer (1:5:5 and 2:5:5) mixtures were found to be miscible. Tablets with 100 and 60 % infill were printed using MakerBot printer at 210°C, and dissolution tests of tablets were conducted at pH 2 and 6.8. Extruded filaments of Kollidon® VA64-Affinisol™15 cP mixtures were flexible and had optimum mechanical strength for 3D printing. Tablets containing 10% drug with 60 and 100% infill showed complete drug release at pH 2 in 45 and 120 min, respectively. Relatively high dissolution rates were also observed at pH 6.8. The 1:1-mixture of Kollidon® VA64 and Affinisol™15 cP was thus identified as a suitable polymer system for 3D printing and rapid drug release.