One 3D-printed ‘polypill’ holds a whole day’s worth of medicine

Remembering to take medications can be hard enough, but keeping track of multiple prescriptions, regimens, and dosages can be even more difficult. As much as a third of all medication errors in American homes are the result of administrative errors. But a team of researchers believe 3D printed ‘polypills’ could help unleash a wave of ‘next generation personalized medicine’ and simplify medical routines.

According to a new study published in Materials today progressmanufacturing engineers and pharmacists from Britain’s University of Nottingham recently collaborated to 3D print edible tablets with highly customized drug dosages and timing regimens.

[Related: 3D printers just got a big, eco-friendly upgrade (in the lab).]

Using what is known as Multi-Material InkJet 3D Printing, the designers first developed a new ink with a molecular composition that hardens into water-soluble structures when exposed to ultraviolet light. After combining the ink with varying amounts of aspirin, the team designed customizable geometric patterns to refine the available surface area of ​​each tablet. This, in addition to the internal structure and shape of a tablet, successfully controlled the release rate and dosage amount of a given printed pill. They then 3D printed 55 additional individualized pills in one batch to demonstrate the scalability and personalization of the method.

In the study associated announcementYinfeng He, assistant professor of additive manufacturing and research leader, described their progress as “an exciting step” toward simplified, individualized medical care.

Although the first experiments used only aspirin, researchers see no reason why future designs will not include additional drugs, regardless of dosage and timing. In doing so, the group claims that these new “polypills” could simplify packing an entire day’s worth of medication into one tablet.

According to engineering professor and study co-author Ricky Wildman, further testing will expand their range of available materials and useful prescription drugs. “The ongoing research aims to refine these aspects and increase their feasibility [3D printing] for widespread application,” he said.

Researchers think the new method could be specifically useful in creating drugs to treat diseases that require multiple drugs to be released at different times.

“The future of prescription medication lies in a personalized approach,” explains pharmacy professor and study co-author Felicity Rose in the associated announcement. Citing the estimate that as many as half of all UK residents are not correctly adhering to their medicine regime, Rose added: “A one-pill approach would simplify taking multiple medicines at different times and this research is an exciting step in that direction.”