3d Printing in Pharmaceuticals: Transforming Drug Formulation and Personalized Medicine

Three-dimensional printing is poised to transform the landscape of pharmaceutical manufacturing by enabling the tailored production of medicines that cater to individual patient requirements. Emphasizing its notable contributions to personalized medicine, this review explores the foundational principles and methods of 3D printing in drug delivery. Key methods, including Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), stereolithography (SLA), and semi-solid extrusion, are evaluated for their benefits and difficulties. The study shows how 3D printing overcomes the bounds of conventional manufacturing techniques, including one-size-fits-all and rigid dosing, thereby enabling the on-demand production of complex dosage forms with customized drug release properties and improved solubility for difficult compounds. Along with the historic FDA clearance of SPRITAM®, the first 3D-printed medicine, practical applications have been demonstrated in the production of pediatric mini-tablets, geriatric polypills, and multi-compartment capsules. Moreover, the study discusses how customized implantable devices, bioprinting, and 3D printing are progressively integrated. Although problems, including material compatibility, process standardization, and legal obstacles, still exist, the rapid development rate promises a future in which 3D printing is essential to pharmaceutical practice. It has great potential to enhance therapeutic results and patient quality of life substantially.