Fabrication of modified-release custom-designed ciprofloxacin tablets via fused deposition modeling 3D printing

Aim: The aim of the present work was to fabricate customized tablets of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride through 3D printing for optimized dosing. 

Materials & methods: A hot melt extrusion technique was employed to produce polyvinyl alcohol filaments with differing strengths of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride. Drug-loaded filaments were characterized for mechanical strength, thermal behavior and structural characteristics prior to printing of tablets by varying the infill percentage. Final formulations were evaluated for drug release profiles. 

Results: The prepared formulations contained 15–20% drug. The drug release patterns of different formulations were found to be reliant on infill percentage. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermo-gravimetric analysis confirmed that degradation temperature of drug is way above the printing temperature. 

Conclusion: This work is potentially significant for optimized antibiotic dosing, which in turn leads to enhanced clinical outcome. Continue here