| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this paper was to investigate the additive manufacturing of pharmaceutical medications through powder bed fusion (PBF), specifically selective laser sintering (SLS) with an objective to achieve printlets with competitive mechanical properties without compromising the drug’s performance in an extended release study. Currently, pills/tablets are made through a combination of mechanical, pressing, and heat application processes in large standardized batches. Using additive manufacturing to make medications offers significant flexibility in personalization for the patient, Just-In-Time manufacture and delivery, and at the point of care, often in rural or underserved areas. SLS is a new method to manufacture pharmaceuticals, but one which has not been well-understood, especially in terms of process parameter effects on printlet quality and performance. In this study, the effects of process input variables related to temperature and laser energy density imparted, in conjunction with relative powder fractions and particle size distributions were studied against printlet quality and performance (both mechanical and pharmaceutical). Results show the fine balance needed to achieve structural integrity while not degrading the drug, and that controlling surface temperatures and particle sizes were the keys to printlet quality/performance. | en |
