Search Results (3)

Background/Objectives: The growing demand for personalised, patient-centric drug delivery systems has driven innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing, particularly in multi-unit particulate systems (MUPS). Methods: In this study, inert cores with tailor-made geometry for multi-particulate formulations were fabricated with high-resolution stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing. By a printable photopolymer resin, dimensionally accurate and mechanically robust starter cores were produced. The additively manufactured inert subunits were drug-layered with ibuprofen sodium using a fluidised bed process. Then, a controlled-release film coating of Eudragit RS 30D was applied with varying coating thicknesses. The initial 3D-printed subunits, together with the drug-layered and finally film-coated microparticles, were characterised by image analysis, Raman microspectroscopic measurements, and official methods of the European Pharmacopoeia. Results: The combined approach of 3D printing and traditional pharmaceutical processing proved highly effective. The 3D-printed cores demonstrated both flexibility in design and consistency in performance. Conclusions: These findings highlight the feasibility of using 3D printing to produce patient-specific, functional cores in multi-particulate systems that can be easily modified according to the patient’s needs. The fabricated minitablets can be used as alternatives to widely used inert cores. Integrating additive manufacturing with conventional coating techniques offers promising new avenues for developing next-generation, personalised drug delivery solutions. Full article

Self-assembly is usually considered a parallel process while self-folding and origami are usually considered to be serial processes. We believe that these distinctions do not hold in actual experiments. Based upon our experience with 4D printing, we have developed three additional hybrid classes: (1) templated-assisted (tethered) self-assembly: e.g., when RNA is bound to viral capsomeres, the subunits are constricted in their interactions to have aspects of self-folding as well; (2) self-folding can depend upon interactions with the environment; for example, a protein synthesized on a ribosome will fold as soon as peptides enter the intracellular environment in a serial process whereas if denatured complete proteins are put into solution, parallel folding can occur simultaneously; and, (3) in turbulent environments, chaotic conditions continuously alternate processes. We have examined the 43,380 Dürer nets of dodecahedra and 43,380 Dürer nets of icosahedra and their corresponding duals: Schlegel diagrams. In order to better understand models of self-assembly of viral capsids, we have used both geometric (radius of gyration, convex hulls, angles) and topological (vertex connections, leaves, spanning trees, cutting trees, and degree distributions) perspectives to develop design principles for 4D printing experiments. Which configurations fold most rapidly? Which configurations lead to complete polyhedra most of the time? By using Hamiltonian circuits of the vertices of Dürer nets and Eulerian paths of cutting trees of polyhedra unto Schlegel diagrams, we have been able to develop a systematic sampling procedure to explore the 86,760 configurations, models of a T1 viral capsid with 60 subunits and to test alternatives with 4D printing experiments, use of Magforms^TM, and origami models to demonstrate via movies the five processes described above. Full article

In Bone Tissue Engineering (BTE), autologous bone-regenerative cells are combined with a scaffold for large bone defect treatment (LBDT). Microporous, polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds showed good healing results in small animals. However, transfer to large animal models is not easily achieved simply by upscaling the design. Increasing diffusion distances have a negative impact on cell survival and nutrition supply, leading to cell death and ultimately implant failure. Here, a novel scaffold architecture was designed to meet all requirements for an advanced bone substitute. Biofunctional, porous subunits in a load-bearing, compression-resistant frame structure characterize this approach. An open, macro- and microporous internal architecture (100 µm–2 mm pores) optimizes conditions for oxygen and nutrient supply to the implant’s inner areas by diffusion. A prototype was 3D-printed applying Fused Filament Fabrication using PLA. After incubation with Saos-2 (Sarcoma osteogenic) cells for 14 days, cell morphology, cell distribution, cell survival (fluorescence microscopy and LDH-based cytotoxicity assay), metabolic activity (MTT test), and osteogenic gene expression were determined. The adherent cells showed colonization properties, proliferation potential, and osteogenic differentiation. The innovative design, with its porous structure, is a promising matrix for cell settlement and proliferation. The modular design allows easy upscaling and offers a solution for LBDT. Full article