Application of fused deposition modelling in controlled drug delivery devices
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to present an investigation on building controlled drug delivery device (DDD) matrix using fused deposition modelling (FDM) rapid prototyping (RP) process. The focus of the study is on the effect of FDM fabricated macro‐features of reservoir‐matrix DDD models on the drug release rates through the diffusion process.
Design/methodology/approach
Using various parameters involved with FDM, polymeric DDD matrices with different macro‐features are designed and fabricated on the FDM3000 machine. Experiments are conducted to study the release characteristics and porosity of the fabricated models with a model drug and to see how they are affected by FDM build parameters.
Findings
Experimental results show that FDM parameters, raster gap and raster angle, play significant roles in controlling the structure and drug release characteristics of the FDM fabricated DDDs. The experimental observations reveal that appropriate FDM parameters can be selected to fabricate controlled DDD device with desired release rate of drug and the desired period of operation of the device.
Originality/value
The paper introduces a novel application of FDM RP system in the development and fabrication of polymeric controlled DDDs. The controlled release of drugs is an important area in which RP techniques can be successfully used in developing models of release matrix for DDDs with added benefits of accuracy, uniformity and low costs compared with conventional methods.
Keywords
Citation
Masood, S.H. (2007), "Application of fused deposition modelling in controlled drug delivery devices", Assembly Automation, Vol. 27 No. 3, pp. 215-221. https://doi.org/10.1108/01445150710763231
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited