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Uboldi M, Gelain A, Buratti G, Chiappa A, Gazzaniga A, Melocchi A, Zema L. Polyvinyl alcohol-based capsule shells manufactured by injection molding as ready-to-use moisture barriers for the development of delivery systems. Int J Pharm 2024; 661:124373. [PMID: 38909921 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
In this work, feasibility of injection molding was demonstrated for manufacturing capsule shells. 600 µm-thick prototypes were successfully molded with pharmaceutical-grade low-viscosity polyvinyl alcohols (PVAs), possibly added with a range of different fillers. They showed reproducible weight and thickness (CV < 2 and 5, respectively), compliant behavior upon piercing (holes diameter analogous to the reference), tunable release performance (immediate and pulsatile), and moisture protection capability. To assess the latter, an on-line method relying on near infrared spectroscopy measurements was set-up and validated. Based on the data collected and considering the versatility IM would provide for product shape/thickness/composition, PVA-based molded shells could help widening the portfolio of ready-to-use capsules, representing an interesting alternative to those commercially available. Indeed, these capsules could be filled with various formulations, even those with stability issues, and intended either for oral administration or for pulmonary delivery via single-dose dry powder inhalers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Uboldi
- Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "Maria Edvige Sangalli", Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Andrea Gelain
- Freund-Vector Corporation European Lab, via E. Mattei 2, 20852, Villasanta, MB, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Buratti
- Freund-Vector Corporation European Lab, via E. Mattei 2, 20852, Villasanta, MB, Italy
| | - Arianna Chiappa
- Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "Maria Edvige Sangalli", Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy; Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy(1)
| | - Andrea Gazzaniga
- Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "Maria Edvige Sangalli", Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Alice Melocchi
- Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "Maria Edvige Sangalli", Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy.
| | - Lucia Zema
- Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "Maria Edvige Sangalli", Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Colombo 71, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy
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Mahmood A, Perveen F, Chen S, Akram T, Irfan A. Polymer Composites in 3D/4D Printing: Materials, Advances, and Prospects. Molecules 2024; 29:319. [PMID: 38257232 PMCID: PMC10818632 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29020319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly referred to as 3D printing, has revolutionized the manufacturing landscape by enabling the intricate layer-by-layer construction of three-dimensional objects. In contrast to traditional methods relying on molds and tools, AM provides the flexibility to fabricate diverse components directly from digital models without the need for physical alterations to machinery. Four-dimensional printing is a revolutionary extension of 3D printing that introduces the dimension of time, enabling dynamic transformations in printed structures over predetermined periods. This comprehensive review focuses on polymeric materials in 3D printing, exploring their versatile processing capabilities, environmental adaptability, and applications across thermoplastics, thermosetting materials, elastomers, polymer composites, shape memory polymers (SMPs), including liquid crystal elastomer (LCE), and self-healing polymers for 4D printing. This review also examines recent advancements in microvascular and encapsulation self-healing mechanisms, explores the potential of supramolecular polymers, and highlights the latest progress in hybrid printing using polymer-metal and polymer-ceramic composites. Finally, this paper offers insights into potential challenges faced in the additive manufacturing of polymer composites and suggests avenues for future research in this dynamic and rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayyaz Mahmood
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China;
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Art and Design, Guangzhou Panyu Polytechnic, Guangzhou 511483, China
- Dongguan Institute of Science and Technology Innovation, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Fouzia Perveen
- School of Interdisciplinary Engineering & Sciences (SINES), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Sector H-12, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Shenggui Chen
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China;
- School of Art and Design, Guangzhou Panyu Polytechnic, Guangzhou 511483, China
- Dongguan Institute of Science and Technology Innovation, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Tayyaba Akram
- Department of Physics, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Ahmad Irfan
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
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Uboldi M, Chiappa A, Rossi M, Briatico-Vangosa F, Melocchi A, Zema L. Development of a multi-component gastroretentive expandable drug delivery system (GREDDS) for personalized administration of metformin. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2024; 21:131-149. [PMID: 38088371 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2023.2294884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Efficacy and compliance of type II diabetes treatment would greatly benefit from dosage forms providing controlled release of metformin in the upper gastrointestinal tract. In this respect, the feasibility of a new system ensuring stomach-retention and personalized release of this drug at its absorption window for multiple days was investigated. METHODS The system proposed comprised of a drug-containing core and a viscoelastic umbrella-like skeleton, which were manufactured by melt-casting and 3D printing. Prototypes, alone or upon assembly and insertion into commercially-available capsules, were characterized for key parameters: thermo-mechanical properties, accelerated stability, degradation, drug release, deployment performance, and resistance to simulated gastric contractions. RESULTS Each part of the system was successfully manufactured using purposely-selected materials and the performance of final prototypes matched the desired one. This included: i) easy folding of the skeleton against the core in the collapsed administered shape, ii) rapid recovery of the cumbersome configuration at the target site, even upon storage, and iii) prolonged release of metformin. CONCLUSIONS Composition, geometry, and performance of the system developed in this work were deemed acceptable for stomach-retention and prolonged as well as customizable release of metformin in its absorption window, laying promising bases for further development steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Uboldi
- Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "Maria Edvige Sangalli", Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Arianna Chiappa
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Margherita Rossi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Briatico-Vangosa
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alice Melocchi
- Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "Maria Edvige Sangalli", Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Lucia Zema
- Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "Maria Edvige Sangalli", Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Gazzaniga A, Foppoli A, Cerea M, Palugan L, Cirilli M, Moutaharrik S, Melocchi A, Maroni A. Towards 4D printing in pharmaceutics. Int J Pharm X 2023; 5:100171. [PMID: 36876052 PMCID: PMC9982600 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpx.2023.100171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Four-dimensional printing (4DP) is emerging as an innovative research topic. It involves the use of smart materials for three-dimensional printing (3DP) of items that change their shape after production, in a programmed way over time, when exposed to appropriate external non-mechanical stimuli (moisture, electric or magnetic fields, UV, temperature, pH or ion composition). In the performance of 4D printed devices, time is involved as the 4th dimension. 4D smart structures have been known for many years in the scientific literature, well before the advent of 3D printing, and the concepts of shape evolution as well as self-assembly have been applied to drug delivery at the nano-, micro- and macro-scale levels. The neologism "4DP" was coined by Tibbits, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in 2013, who also showed the earliest examples of 4D printed objects. Since then, smart materials have often been combined with additive manufacturing, which makes production of complex shapes easy to achieve: going beyond 3DP, 4D printed items are no static objects. Two main categories of raw materials have been employed for 4DP: shape memory polymers (SMPs) and shape morphing hydrogels (SMHs). In principle, all types of 3D printers could be used for 4DP. In this article, examples of systems for use in the biomedical field, such as stents and scaffolds, and in drug delivery are reviewed, with special emphasis on indwelling devices for retention in the urinary bladder and in the stomach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gazzaniga
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "M.E. Sangalli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Anastasia Foppoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "M.E. Sangalli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Matteo Cerea
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "M.E. Sangalli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Luca Palugan
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "M.E. Sangalli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Micol Cirilli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "M.E. Sangalli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Saliha Moutaharrik
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "M.E. Sangalli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Alice Melocchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "M.E. Sangalli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Alessandra Maroni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche "M.E. Sangalli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy
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Uboldi M, Perrotta C, Moscheni C, Zecchini S, Napoli A, Castiglioni C, Gazzaniga A, Melocchi A, Zema L. Insights into the Safety and Versatility of 4D Printed Intravesical Drug Delivery Systems. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030757. [PMID: 36986618 PMCID: PMC10057729 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper focuses on recent advancements in the development of 4D printed drug delivery systems (DDSs) for the intravesical administration of drugs. By coupling the effectiveness of local treatments with major compliance and long-lasting performance, they would represent a promising innovation for the current treatment of bladder pathologies. Being based on a shape-memory pharmaceutical-grade polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), these DDSs are manufactured in a bulky shape, can be programmed to take on a collapsed one suitable for insertion into a catheter and re-expand inside the target organ, following exposure to biological fluids at body temperature, while releasing their content. The biocompatibility of prototypes made of PVAs of different molecular weight, either uncoated or coated with Eudragit®-based formulations, was assessed by excluding relevant in vitro toxicity and inflammatory response using bladder cancer and human monocytic cell lines. Moreover, the feasibility of a novel configuration was preliminarily investigated, targeting the development of prototypes provided with inner reservoirs to be filled with different drug-containing formulations. Samples entailing two cavities, filled during the printing process, were successfully fabricated and showed, in simulated urine at body temperature, potential for controlled release, while maintaining the ability to recover about 70% of their original shape within 3 min.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Uboldi
- Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche “Maria Edvige Sangalli”, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Giuseppe Colombo 71, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Cristiana Perrotta
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Giovanni Battista Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Claudia Moscheni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Giovanni Battista Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Zecchini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Giovanni Battista Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Napoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Giovanni Battista Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Chiara Castiglioni
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Gazzaniga
- Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche “Maria Edvige Sangalli”, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Giuseppe Colombo 71, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Alice Melocchi
- Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche “Maria Edvige Sangalli”, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Giuseppe Colombo 71, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-50324654
| | - Lucia Zema
- Sezione di Tecnologia e Legislazione Farmaceutiche “Maria Edvige Sangalli”, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Giuseppe Colombo 71, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Abstract
The advancement of four-dimensional (4D) printing has been fueled by the rise in demand for additive manufacturing and the expansion in shape-memory materials. The printing of smart substances that respond to external stimuli is known as 4D printing. 4D printing allows highly controlled shapes to simulate the physiological milieu by adding time dimensions. The 4D printing is suitable with current progress in smart compounds, printers, and its mechanism of action. The 4D printing paradigm, a revolutionary enhancement of 3D printing, was anticipated by various engineering disciplines. Tissue engineering, medicinal, consumer items, aerospace, and organ engineering use 4D printing technology. The current review mainly focuses on the basics of 4D printing and the methods used therein. It also discusses the time-dependent behavior of stimulus-sensitive compounds, which are widely used in 4D printing. In addition, this review highlights material aspects, specifically related to shape-memory polymers, stimuli-responsive materials (classified as physical, chemical, and biological), and modified materials, the backbone of 4D printing technology. Finally, potential applications of 4D printing in the biomedical sector are also discussed with challenges and future perspectives.
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Expandable Drug Delivery Systems Based on Shape Memory Polymers: Impact of Film Coating on Mechanical Properties and Release and Recovery Performance. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14122814. [PMID: 36559306 PMCID: PMC9786903 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Retentive drug delivery systems (DDSs) are intended for prolonged residence and release inside hollow muscular organs, to achieve either local or systemic therapeutic goals. Recently, formulations based on shape memory polymers (SMPs) have gained attention in view of their special ability to recover a shape with greater spatial encumbrance at the target organ (e.g., urinary bladder or stomach), triggered by contact with biological fluids at body temperature. In this work, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), a pharmaceutical-grade SMP previously shown to be an interesting 4D printing candidate, was employed to fabricate expandable organ-retentive prototypes by hot melt extrusion. With the aim of improving the mechanical resistance of the expandable DDS and slowing down relevant drug release, the application of insoluble permeable coatings based on either Eudragit® RS/RL or Eudragit® NE was evaluated using simple I-shaped specimens. The impact of the composition and thickness of the coating on the shape memory, swelling, and release behavior as well as on the mechanical properties of these specimens was thoroughly investigated and the effectiveness of the proposed strategy was demonstrated by the results obtained.
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Administration strategies and smart devices for drug release in specific sites of the upper GI tract. J Control Release 2022; 348:537-552. [PMID: 35690278 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Targeting the release of drugs in specific sites of the upper GI tract would meet local therapeutic goals, improve the bioavailability of specific drugs and help overcoming compliance-related limitations, especially in chronic illnesses of great social/economic impact and involving polytherapies (e.g. Parkinson's and Alzeimer's disease, tubercolosis, malaria, HIV, HCV). It has been traditionally pursued using gastroretentive (GR) systems, i.e. low-density, high-density, magnetic, adhesive and expandable devices. More recently, the interest towards oral administration of biologics has prompted the development of novel drug delivery systems (DDSs) provided with needles and able to inject different formulations in the mucosa of the upper GI tract and particularly of esophagus, stomach or small intestine. Besides comprehensive literature analysis, DDSs identified as smart devices in view of their high degree of complexity in terms of design, working mechanism, materials employed and manufacturing steps were discussed making use of graphic tools.
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