Novel 3DP Drug Delivery Devices with Complex Structures for Linear Drug Release Profiles

A novel drug delivery device (DDD) with complex structures for providing linear drug release profiles was designed and fabricated directly from the CAD models using three-dimensional printing technique (3DP) systems. The DDDs were in donut shape and had local concentration variations of the release-retarding polymer in their three regions. Environmental scanning electron microscopy clearly showed that the two dense regions, which had low porosity but high binding intensity, were symmetric around the middle loose region, which had high porosity but poor binding effect. All the DDDs exhibited standard-met mechanical performance. In vitro dissolution tests showed that up to 95% of the drug in the DDDs were released out in a linear manner before leveling off to completion when both ethyl cellulose (EC) and Eudragdit RS-100 solutions were taken as binder liquids. 3DP has advantages in fabrication of DDDs with complex design feature and can offer new strategies for the development of novel dosage forms with the desired release profiles.