Utilizing 3D printing processes to create bioactive patches for treating ulcers and wounds has recently gained popularity. Due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and capacity to support cell growth, the natural polysaccharide pectin has become a promising material for 3D printing. Additionally, simple extrusion 3D printers make it simple to create pectin-based inks. The potential of 3D biotechnology to produce biomaterials for bioactive patches and its uses, methods, and advantages over conventional methods are discussed below.
Due to its numerous benefits, the use of 3D printing technology in the pharmaceutical industry has recently increased. Creating bioactive patches for treating ulcers and wounds is one of the most promising uses of 3D printing (Zamboulis et al., 2022). Pectin is a polysaccharide that, because of its biocompatibility and capacity to create hydrogels, can be used as a biomaterial for 3D printing. Extrusion 3D printing, a type of 3D printing that uses a syringe to extrude the material through a nozzle, has been used with pectin-based inks. The ability to print patches with various designs and images makes this type of printing ideal for producing patches.
Pectin-based bioactive patches can be produced using a variety of 3D printing techniques. 3D printing using extrusion is a common method (Agarwal et al., 2021). During this process, a spot of ink with a pectin base is extruded through a nozzle and applied to a substrate. It is possible to create patches customized to the patient’s needs by incorporating different drugs into the pectin-based ink.
Bioactive patches made of pectin have some advantages over conventional drug delivery techniques like injections and oral administration. First, the controlled release of the active ingredient that patches offer can lead to increased efficacy and fewer side effects. Furthermore, patches are simple and can be placed on the wound or ulcer. Injections or oral medication administration, which can be challenging for people with chronic conditions, are no longer necessary for patients.
Making pectin-based bioactive patches is made simple and affordable by 3D printing technology. Pectin-based inks can be made using a variety of 3D printing processes, including extrusion-based and inkjet printing, to create the desired mechanical and biological properties. Andriotis et al. made pectin-based patches infused with various drugs using 3D printing. Pectin-based inks can be designed to have a variety of release profiles, from controlled release over a few days or weeks to immediate release. Additionally, a wide range of active components can be added to pectin-based inks, including medications, growth factors, and cells.
There are many benefits to using 3D printing to make bioactive patches instead of more conventional techniques. However, there are some issues as well that need to be resolved. Making sure the pectin-based inks are compatible with the 3D printer is one of the major challenges. Finding the ideal ratio of pectin to other ingredients in ink to produce a printable ink presents another challenge. Despite the difficulties, the creation of bioactive patches using 3D printing holds great promise for the pharmaceutical sector. The way ulcers and wounds are treated could be completely altered by this technology.
The study shows the potential of 3D printing to produce bioactive patches that can heal wounds and ulcers. It has been demonstrated that the polysaccharide pectin, found in plant cell walls, has wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties. The patches were then examined in an animal model to see if they could release the medications and aid wound healing. The results of this study showed that pectin-based patches could release medications gradually and speed up the healing of wounds in rats. No negative effects were noticed. This study demonstrates how 3D printing technology can be used to develop personalized drug delivery systems that can be adjusted to meet the individual requirements of each patient.
References
Agarwal, T., Costantini, M., & Maiti, T. K. (2021). Extrusion 3D printing with Pectin-based ink formulations: Recent trends in tissue engineering and food manufacturing. Biomedical Engineering Advances, 2, 100018.
Andriotis, E. G., Eleftheriadis, G. K., Karavasili, C., & Fatouros, D. G. (2020). Development of bio-active patches based on pectin for treating ulcers and wounds using 3D-bioprinting technology. Pharmaceutics, 12(1), 56.
Zamboulis, A., Michailidou, G., Koumentakou, I., & Bikiaris, D. N. (2022). Polysaccharide 3D Printing for Drug Delivery Applications. Pharmaceutics, 14(1), 145.
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