Senior Scientist RCPE GmbH Graz, Steiermark, Austria
The application of dual-extruder fused filament fabrication (FFF, 3D-printing) for the creation of biodegradable subcutaneous implants made of SynBiosys® polymers with customizable drug release profiles will be presented. Cylindrical monolithic and core-shell implants with a length of 40 mm and a diameter of 2 mm were successfully fabricated, emphasizing the flexibility of 3D-printing in adjusting parameters, such as shell thickness (70 –350 µm) and internal structure (infill density 25-100%). Innovative systems that are beyond the possibilities of more traditional manufacturing processes will be highlighted and FFF parameters determining the in-vitro drug release characteristics will be discussed. For instance, core-shell implants demonstrated zero-order release, while monolithic implants exhibited tri-phasic release patterns with the in-vitro release duration ranging between 168 days (core-shell system: low infill density, low shell thickness) and 262 days (monolithic system: high infill density). Overall, this research provides an innovative framework for future advancements in patient-centric subcutaneous drug delivery.
Learning Objectives:
To understand how dual-extruder 3D-printing can be utilized to create customizable biodegradable subcutaneous implants from SynBiosys® polymers for controlled drug delivery.
Upon completion, participant will be able to understand 3D-printing process parameters relevant for high-resolution 3D-printing of subcutaneous implants.
The influence of 3D-printing parameters on the drug release will be discussed.
