Supervisors info:
Δάλλας Παρασκευάς, Επίκουρος καθηγητής Φαρμακευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Ρέκκας Δημήτριος, Αναπληρωτής καθηγητής Φαρμακευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Ράλλης Μιχαήλ, Αναπληρωτής καθηγητής Φαρμακευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Transdermal delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients has made a significant contribution in daily medical practice, being an attractive alternative to both hypodermic needles and oral administration. However, the effect of most therapeutic agents through this route, is limited. This phenomenon is attributed to the existence of the stratum corneum which acts as a "barrier" and only a small number of molecules finally approach the point of action. An innovative pharmaceutical dosage form, that of microneedles, enhances the permeability of drugs by disrupting the structure of stratum corneum and creating micropores. In this way, active pharmaceutical ingredients diffuse directly into the epidermis or the upper layers of the dermis, where the network of capillaries is located.
Of the microneedle types, the one that is of particular interest is that of polymeric microneedles, because they are biodegradable, with the ability to control the release rate of the incorporated active pharmaceutical ingredient, as well as non-toxic and non-irritating. Polymeric microneedles are mostly made using the micromoulding technique, which, however, requires the manufacture of molds from master solid templates. Such master templates, result from the application of specialized techniques that require qualified personnel and high-cost equipment. Therefore, in order to simplify the fabrication process, FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) 3D printing technology was applied for the direct production of polylactic acid (PLA) molds. This new method enables the reduction of total costs, saving of resources and easy modification of the dimensions under study.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a manufacturing method in which objects are made by fusing or depositing materials in layers to produce a 3D object in almost any shape or form as defined in computer-aided design (CAD). In the pharmaceutical sector, the use of 3D printing enables ‘smart’ design in terms of size, dose, appearance and rate of delivery of a drug to comply with individual needs. Due to this fact, 3D printing is related to the consolidation of a new industrial period, the fourth industrial revolution, which brings digital, physical and biological systems in direct contact, while at the same time aiming at the autonomous operation of the machines without human intervention and the integration of innovative technologies, in order to continuously improve the production system efficiency.
Keywords:
Microneedles, 3D printing, Transdermal delivery, Galantamine
