The development and optimisation of gastro-retentive floating tablets using fused deposition modelling 3D printing
Sinmisola Oladeji, Suha Dadou, Min Zhao, Shu Li, David S. Jones, Gavin P. Andrews
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To develop a robust tablet design for the manufacture of gastro-retentive tablets using fused deposition modelling three-dimensional printing (FDM-3DP) that can provide prolonged gastric residence time with instant floating and minimum influence of process and/or formulation variables. METHODS: Three different polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and Soluplus were used, separately, for the manufacture of tablets using FDM-3DP. Tablets were designed in a sandwich model that included voids in the internal structure to support buoyancy. KEY FINDINGS: Fabricated tablets from all polymers were instantly buoyant with no floating lag time. Floating duration was in the order: HPC > Soluplus > PVA which can be explained by the density of the tablets. PVA tablets exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) higher density values (0.86 ± 0.02 mg/mm3) than HPC and Soluplus (0.69 ± 0.03 and 0.72 ± 0.02 mg/mm3, respectively). HPC and Soluplus showed similar zero-order drug release profiles (f2 > 50) and were able to sustain the release of theophylline for 12 h, whereas complete drug release was achieved from PVA tablets after 3 h. CONCLUSIONS: Robust gastro-retentive tablets that show instant buoyancy regardless of the polymeric carrier type and composition were successfully manufactured utilising FDM-3DP. This allows for overcoming the restrictions posed by process/formulation parameters on the floatability of gastro-retentive tablets.