Fabrication of a Controlled-Release Core-Shell Floating Tablet of Ketamine Hydrochloride Using a 3D Printing Technique for Management of Refractory Depressions and Chronic Pain.
Polymers – March 08, 2024
Source: PubMed
Summary
3D printing technology is revolutionizing drug delivery with personalized medicine solutions. Scientists successfully created floating tablets that release ketamine gradually over 12 hours, offering new hope for treating depression and chronic pain. Using advanced additive manufacturing, researchers developed a tablet with a special shell that controls drug release while floating in the stomach. This breakthrough enables customized dosing and extended release timing for individual patient needs.
Abstract
In this study, a novel floating, controlled-release and core-shell oral tablet of ketamine hydrochloride (HCl) was produced using a dual extrusion by 3D printing method. A mixture of Soluplus® and Eudragit® RS-PO was extruded by a hot-melt extrusion (HME) nozzle at 150-160 °C to fabricate the tablet shell, while a second nozzle known as a pressure-assisted syringe (PAS) extruded the etamine HCl in carboxymethyl cellulose gel at room temperature (25 °C) inside the shell. The resulting tablets were optimized based on the United States pharmacopeia standards (USP) for solid dosage forms. Moreover, the tablet was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and buoyancy techniques. The results showed a desired dissolution profile for a 100% infill optimized tablet with total drug release (100%) during 12 h. Weight variation and content uniformity of the tablets achieved the USP requirements. SEM micrographs showed a smooth surface with acceptable layer diameters. According to the FTIR analysis, no interference was detected among peaks. Based on DSC analysis, the crystallinity of ketamine HCl did not change during melt extrusion. In conclusion, the floating controlled-release 3D-printed tablet of ketamine HCl can be a promising candidate for management of refractory depressions and chronic pain. Additionally, the additive manufacturing method enables the production of patient-tailored dosage with tunable-release kinetics for personalized medicine in point-of care setting.