Design and 3D printing of multi-compartmental PVA capsules for drug delivery

3D printing is predicted to play a significant role in the future of the pharmaceutical industry. Personalized drug delivery, which includes personalizing dosage forms, drug content and release has become a new, promising and effective way in the treatment of patients. This paper provides a contribution to the development of personalized oral dosage forms based on the design and production of modular capsules. Fused deposition modeling was utilized to produce a polyvinyl alcohol concentrically compartmental Can-capsule and modular Super-H capsule with different membrane thicknesses. Dronedarone hydrochloride and ascorbic acid in powdery form were filled into the printed capsules and used to test the rate of dissolution. In vitro studies were performed at different pH to investigate capsule performance. Lag time of the Super-H capsules in an acidic medium (0.1 M HCl) was correlated to membrane thickness. The inner part of the Can-capsule is gastro-resistant, resistant to an acid medium (0.1 M HCl) for 2 h, and is suitable for delivery of drugs to the small intestine. The results show that the Super-H and Can-capsule can be used as modular devices for administering drugs when a postponed release is required or for the delivery of two different active ingredients.