Perspectives on 3D-printed Tablets for Drug Release Systems

Introduction: Oral solid pharmaceutical forms, such as tablets, are the most produced and consumed medicines due to their advantages in transportation and administration. However, they are manufactured on an industrial scale, generating thousands of units in a brief period, not allowing for dose flexibility or customization. 3D printing of medicines is a trend that has been growing worldwide to fill this treatment gap, favoring personalized treatment. To perform an integrative literature review, only research articles were considered. The aim was to map and analyze the current landscape of drug delivery systems developed through 3D printing technologies. Methods: Bibliometric analysis was conducted using three databases, Science Direct, Springer, and PubMed, from January 2013 to May 2025, and only research articles were considered. Results: The article is an integrative literature review considering only research articles, articles published (no preprint format is considered), and articles focusing on the pharmaceutical, toxicological, and pharmacological sciences areas. Discussion: Among the studies included, FDM was the predominant 3D printing technique, and prolongedrelease tablets were the most frequently reported systems. Drug release was mainly governed by polymer type, printing method, and tablet design. Conclusion: 3D printing offers a versatile approach for tailoring drug release in oral dosage forms, with strong potential for personalized medicine, although broader exploration of alternative printing techniques and translational studies is still needed. More studies involving the quality control of 3D tablets and the influence of printing parameters and in vivo behavior are needed to develop future medicines.