Manufacture of 2D-Printed Precision Drug-Loaded Orodispersible Film Prepared from Tamarind Seed Gum Substrate

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) printing is a simple technology that shows the possibility for the preparation of personalized pharmaceutical dosage forms. This technology can accurately print medicine in different sizes, which can be applied to develop a personalized, drug-loaded orodispersible film for patients with dysphagia. Seed gum from Tamarindus indica Linn was selected as the film former of the printing substrate, and sorbitol was applied as a film plasticizer. Theophylline was used as a printed model drug due to its narrow therapeutic index. From the results, the mechanical properties of the film indicated that increasing the level of sorbitol improved the flexibility and strength of the film, which rendered the gum film suitable as a printing substrate. Conversely, raising portions of the gum (more than 3.5%) led to the use of rigid and stress-resistant films that can crack during the printing process. The Fourier transform infrared result revealed that there was no interaction between theophylline and the gum after the printing process. The printed theophylline was mainly in an amorphous form based on the X-ray diffraction results. Furthermore, theophylline was deposited at the surface of the gum substrate after the drug-printing process, as depicted in the scanning electron microscope images. The printed drug on the orodispersible film can be accurately determined by varying the printing size/repeat. Lastly, the drug was completely released from the orodispersible film within 5 min. The research results showed the possibility of utilizing tamarind seed gum as a potential printing substrate for the 2D drug-printing technique. Moreover, this can be applied as an electronic prescribing system for telemedicine in the future.