Manufatura aditiva farmacêutica para a personalização de terapias humanas e veterinárias

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and characterise a three-dimensional printing-based pharmaceutical platform for the production of personalised oral dosage forms containing atenolol as a model drug, intended to investigate therapeutic individualisation strategies across different clinical settings, encompassing both human and veterinary applications. Conceptual prototypes of pharmaceutical scaffolds were fabricated from PLA, PVA and TPU filaments using fused deposition modelling (FDM), with parametrically adjustable geometry, dimensions and internal volume, enabling modulation of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) loading capacity. An automated semi-solid extrusion system based on an in-house developed G-code was implemented, integrating geometric parameters with personalised dosing requirements. Among the materials evaluated, PLA scaffolds exhibited the highest structural fidelity to the digital designs, accurately reproducing the intended external dimensions, geometry and internal volume for drug incorporation. The results demonstrated efficient incorporation of the pharmaceutical formulation into the printed scaffolds. For the human model, the mean mass gain was 99.70 ± 5.03%, with a mean loading efficiency of 92.66 ± 4.67% and a mean atenolol content of 92.26 ± 3.81% (CV = 4.13%), indicating good uniformity among the printed units. For the veterinary scaffolds, the mean mass gain was 204.25 ± 5.51%, with a mean loading efficiency of 107.50 ± 2.90% and a mean atenolol content of 92.05 ± 3.21% (CV = 3.49%). These findings demonstrate satisfactory control over both the manufacturing process and the incorporation of the model drug through semi-solid extrusion three-dimensional printing. Overall, the findings support the potential of three-dimensional printing as an emerging and promising technology for the on-demand manufacture of medicines, with the capacity to improve dosing accuracy, increase therapeutic flexibility and facilitate the decentralisation of pharmaceutical manufacturing. Consequently, this study contributes to the advancement of personalised pharmaceutical manufacturing and precision medicine by integrating digital design, process automation and quality control within a single technological platform