Innovative color jet 3D printing of levetiracetam personalized paediatric preparations

3D printing is a promising technology used in the fabrication of complex oral dosage delivery pharmaceuticals. This study first reports an innovative color jet 3D printing (CJ-3DP) technology to produce colorful cartoon levetiracetam pediatric preparations with high accuracy and reproducibility. For this study, the ideal printing ink consisted of 40% (v/v) isopropanol aqueous solution containing 0.05% (w/w) polyvinylpyrrolidone and 4% (w/w) glycerin, which was satisfied with scale-up of the production. The external and internal spatial structures of the tablets were designed to control the appearance and release, and cartoon tablets with admirable appearances and immediate release characteristics were printed. The dosage model showed a good linear relationship between the model volume and the tablet strength (r > 0.999), which proved the potential of personalized administration. The surface roughness indicated that the appearance of the CJ-3DP tablets was significantly better than the first listed 3D printed drug (Spritam(Ⓡ)). Moreover, the scanning electron microscopy and porosity results further showed that the tablets have a structure of loose interior and tight exterior, which could ensure good mechanical properties and rapid dispersion characteristics simultaneously. In conclusion, the innovative CJ-3DP technology can be used to fabricate personalized pediatric preparations for improved compliance. Due to the stable formulation and fabrication process, this technology has the potential in scale-up production.