As the population ages and rates of chronic disease rise, more people are juggling multiple pills for various conditions on a daily basis. Such complex medication regimens can be a hassle and even dangerous if a mistake is made, particularly for those with cognitive impairments. Imagine the convenience and safety of taking just one pill a day that delivers all necessary medications at the right times and doses.
The Concept Of Polypills
Pills typically work by releasing drugs into the body when their outer shell dissolves in the digestive system. However, a cleverly designed pill can contain multiple layers, each with a different drug. As each layer dissolves at a specific rate, it releases its drug sequentially until the entire pill is absorbed. These ‘polypills’ are already being manufactured for conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Personalized Medication Through 3D Printing
While mass production of polypills is feasible, it poses a challenge: A single combination of drugs may not suit every patient. Personalized polypills, tailored to individual needs, are expensive when produced through traditional manufacturing techniques. Enter 3D printing, a cost-effective solution that builds thin layers of material to create a final product. This technology allows for the customization of polypills for individual patients.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FD) has already approved a 3D-printed drug, although it’s not a polypill. Even so, this approval paves the way for more advancements in this field. However, many drugs are not water-soluble, presenting a challenge for 3D printing. Efficient absorption of these drugs requires new materials and methods.
Breakthroughs In 3D-Printed Drug Delivery
Recent research has focused on using ‘surfactant-polyelectrolyte complexes’ for 3D printing drugs. These materials—gels primarily composed of water—can carry water-insoluble drugs. Surfactants, which have parts that mix with water and parts that do not, can form structures to story drugs. When combine with polyelectrolytes of opposite charge, they form a complex capable of delivering drugs effectively.
By 3D printing alternating layers of these materials, researchers have developed a system that can store and release drug molecules in the form of a polypill. This innovation could revolutionize how medications are administered, particularly for those with multiple conditions.
The Future Of Medication Management
Although this new form of drug delivery shows great promise, it still requires regulatory approval, which can take up to five years after clinical trials. In the foreseeable future, customized 3D-printed polypills could be available at local pharmacies, simplifying medication schedules for many.
This advancement in 3D printing technology holds the potential to transform healthcare, making medication management safer, more convenient, and more personalized.
References:
The Conversation: 3D-printed drugs could be a godsend for those on multiple pills a day – and potentially life saving
The Optimist Daily: 3D-printed polypill covers all your medication for the entire day
Forbes: FDA Approves First 3-D Printed Drug
The Medical Futurist: The Future of 3D Printing Drugs In Pharmacies Is Closer Than You Think