Thousands of medications are available for use around the world. Taking pills and syrups has become a part of everyday life. In some cases, people are required to regularly take a larger number of medications. However, this can be burdensome — for example, for children, large tablets that are difficult to swallow can cause discomfort and be an unpleasant experience. The same applies to the elderly, who often need to take multiple medications at once, which can also be uncomfortable.
If only it were possible to develop a single pill that combines the effects of many others…
Today's scientific research is leading to new, incredible solutions in medicine. Researchers are working on a new method of 3D bioprinting in pharmacy, which is progressing steadily and could contribute to a breakthrough in this field. Our 3D bioprinters, the BioCloner Desktop Pro, are designed with such research in mind. By utilizing our technology, it will be possible in the future to develop enhanced methods of dissolving substances, enabling the creation of tailored and personalized drug therapies.
Is it worth replacing traditional medications with 3D printed ones?
3D printing of medications can bring many benefits:
Personalization of printed drugs:
- The technology of 3D printing tablets allows them to be tailored to special needs, as every patient has individual requirements. These may include the size of the tablets and their quantity. Through drug printing, it will be possible to personalize them in terms of size, structure, or taste. It will also enable the combination of multiple active ingredients in one tablet, reducing the number of medications taken.
Controlling the dissolution time of drugs:
- Each medication has its own individual absorption time. For some conditions, a faster dissolution in the body is necessary, while for others, a slower release is required. The 3D printing technology of tablets will allow for the adjustment of their absorption time, making them perfectly tailored to the specific patient.
Reducing side effects:
- The printing of medications will allow for the personalization of active ingredients for a specific person. Thanks to perfect biological compatibility with the patient and their condition, taking printed medications will reduce the risk of side effects. It will also minimize the impact of the medication on healthy tissues by delivering the active substance exactly where it is most needed.
How to test printed medications?
Every pharmaceutical product must undergo testing before it can be approved for use. To reduce animal testing, the 3D bioprinting method can be used. This technology makes it possible to create a biological structure containing living cells that will mimic human tissues, such as skin or other organs. Using such a model, new pharmaceutical substances can be tested without interfering with the life or health of humans and animals. In this way, scientists will be able to assess the impact of a given "medication" on a specific organ.
These are just some of the advantages of developing the method of drug bioprinting. Together with scientists, we are working towards the modernization of drug therapies and introducing innovative changes in medical fields. Our BioCloner Desktop Pro printers are specifically designed for such research — we aim to support experts at every stage of their laboratory work, working alongside them to create a better future.