A REVIEW OF 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY IN PHARMACY: TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS, NOW AND FUTURE

Jalaiah M; Kishore Babu M; Aruna M; Amrutha CH; Ashok J; Samrin SK; Sailajaa S

doi:10.37022/jiaps.v10i3.801

M. Jalaiah Professor, Department of Pharmacology, QIS College of Pharmacy, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh.
M Kishore Babu Principal and Professor, QIS College of Pharmacy, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh.
M. Aruna Research scholar, QIS College of Pharmacy, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh.
CH. Amrutha Research scholar, QIS College of Pharmacy, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh.
J. Ashok Research scholar, QIS College of Pharmacy, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh.
SK. Samrin Research scholar, QIS College of Pharmacy, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh.
S. Sailajaa Research scholar, QIS College of Pharmacy, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh.

DOI https://doi.org/10.37022/jiaps.v10i3.801

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing, also known as additive manufacturing, enables the fabrication of personalized pharmaceutical dosage forms through computer-aided design and layer-by-layer construction. In recent years, the use of 3D printing in the pharmaceutical field has advanced rapidly. Since the first FDA-approved 3D-printed drug Spritam® in 2015, multiple investigational new drug (IND) applications-particularly from Triastek-have demonstrated the growing feasibility of commercial-scale 3D-printed medicines. Compared with conventional manufacturing, 3D printing offers unique advantages in tailoring drug dose, geometry, and release characteristics, enabling the production of complex structures and small-batch personalized medicines. This review summarizes the principles of widely used 3D printing technologies, their advantages, limitations, and pharmaceutical applications. It further analyzes the global commercialization landscape, identifies regulatory and technical challenges, and outlines future trends to guide ongoing research and development in 3D-printed drug production.

Keywords: 3D printing, additive manufacturing, personalized medicine, 3D-printed drugs, drug delivery, pharmaceutical technology

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