The future of medicine: 3D printing your personalised prescriptions

This vision is becoming a reality thanks to advancements in 3D printing technology and the efforts of researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Traditional pharmaceuticals are manufactured in large batches, with a one-size-fits-all approach. This method often fails to account for individual differences in body chemistry, leading to variations in drug efficacy and side effects. However, 3D printing technology, also known as additive manufacturing, is poised to revolutionise this process by enabling the production of custom-tailored medications.

Using 3D printers, it is possible to create pills with precise dosages and combinations of active ingredients tailored to the unique needs of each patient. This level of customisation can significantly improve treatment outcomes by ensuring that each patient receives the exact medication formulation that works best for their specific condition.

NIST researchers are at the forefront of developing the standards and measurement techniques necessary to make pharmaceutical 3D printing a reliable and widely adopted practice. One key area of focus is ensuring the quality and consistency of 3D-printed medications.

In traditional drug manufacturing, stringent quality control measures are in place to ensure each batch of medication meets the required specifications. With 3D printing, however, the production process can vary from one printer to another, and even from one print to the next. To address this challenge, NIST is developing methods to measure and control the critical parameters that influence the quality of 3D-printed medications, such as the printer's operating conditions, the properties of the raw materials, and the final product's characteristics.

The potential benefits of 3D-printed medications are substantial:

• Personalisation: medications can be customised to the individual needs of patients, taking into account factors such as age, weight, genetics, and specific health conditions
• Complex formulations: 3D printing can produce pills with intricate structures and multiple active ingredients, enabling combination therapies that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods
• On-demand production: medications can be produced on-demand, reducing waste and ensuring that patients always have access to fresh, up-to-date treatments
• Accessibility: with 3D printers, pharmacies or even individual homes could produce medications locally, improving access to essential drugs in remote or underserved areas

While the promise of 3D-printed medications is exciting, several challenges remain before this technology can become mainstream. Ensuring the consistency and safety of 3D-printed drugs is paramount, and regulatory frameworks must evolve to accommodate this new method of production.

Additionally, the cost of 3D printing technology and materials must be reduced to make it a viable option for widespread use. Ongoing research and collaboration between industry, academia, and government agencies like NIST will be critical in overcoming these hurdles.

Image credit: R. Eskalis/NIST