Pharmaceutical printing involves managing print jobs of all sizes. The number of labels printed per job can range from hundreds to thousands. There are also many complexities and variations in the size of labels. Pharmaceutical printing also requires special finishing to ensure high-quality products. Pharmaceutical printing can be a challenging field for anyone in the printing industry.
Inkjet Printing
Pharmaceutical printing can benefit from the advantages of inkjet printing technology. This technology allows pharmaceutical corporations to achieve superior printouts that are more accurate and legible. Additionally, it allows them to control viscosity levels, which helps to prevent errors. Here are three advantages of using inkjet printing for pharmaceutical printing. All of these benefits make it a better option for pharmaceutical manufacturers. In addition, pharmaceutical packaging benefits from an improved aesthetic quality.
Inkjet printing is a form of additive manufacturing, which involves selective liquid droplet deposition and solidification. This process has the potential to address many of the challenges associated with producing solid oral dosage forms. For example, the manufacturing processes associated with these solid dosage forms are cumbersome and time-consuming. Additionally, personalisation can be difficult.
Environmentally Friendly
The process is also environmentally friendly. This process eliminates the distribution stage of the manufacturing process and allows for the rapid creation of small batches. Examples of this technology include tissue engineering scaffolds and wound-healing gels. Doctors use this technique to make these items. In addition to these applications, it’s also a cost-effective and efficient method of manufacturing pharmaceuticals.
Inkjet printing is also useful in ensuring compliance with regulations. It allows pharmaceutical companies to ensure that their products are safe for consumers. The process also allows them to use multiple colours and logos. Pharmaceutical packaging is especially sensitive, which makes it important to have a high-quality printing system.
Laser Sintering
Laser sintering is a technique for making pharmaceutical products that involves transferring a thin layer of material to a solid object by a process called laser sintering. The process uses a laser of different wavelengths to sinter various types of materials. The laser’s wavelength is typically a few micrometers longer than the material’s thickness, which makes the process more efficient.
The process uses thermoplastic polymers as matrices. These materials can change shape in response to thermal variations, and the laser is the final push that fuses the powder particles together. In addition to sintering, it also improves the mechanical properties of printed parts. However, the exact effects of powder particle size have not been fully studied.
SLS Printing
The method is currently being used for industrial manufacturing for plastic, metallic, and ceramic objects. However, the technology is still not widely adopted for pharmaceutical applications. For this reason, researchers are evaluating the suitability of SLS printing to create medicines. They have chosen two thermoplastic pharmaceutical grade polymers for testing. The first one is Kollicoat IR, which is composed of 75% polyvinyl alcohol. The other is Eudragit L100-55, a 50/50 mix of methacrylic acid and ethyl acrylate.
Laser sintering has several advantages for pharmaceutical printing. It can reduce the time needed for the drug to reach its target in the body. Additionally, it can make the drug less likely to undergo the permeation process. This means that pharmaceutical manufacturers don’t have to wait long for their drugs to reach their target patients.
One of the major challenges with SLS for pharmaceutical printing is drug stability. The materials used in this process do not have good chemical stability. They are very fragile and are prone to damage. Nevertheless, SLS has the potential to overcome these problems. Further, SLS can be used for dental and prosthetic implants.
Drop-on Powder Printing
Drop-on-powder pharmaceutical printing is a modern way of producing excipients without using thermal processing. The technology has recently been used to manufacture anti-cancer drugs. This technique works by dispersing a powder over a platform and repeating the process until the desired 3D structure is achieved.
The method is similar to that of the wet granulation process, but without the added heat. A powder bed is created on the printing table, and a solution is sprayed on the powder bed. Small droplets of liquid ink are then deposited onto the powder bed and spread to a defined shape. The powder bed is then dried.
Different Printing Method
Another method uses a piezoelectric crystal transducer to convert the pharmaceutical-based ink into a droplet. The performance of the carrier formulation during printing is a critical criterion in the development of APIs for this process. Fluid viscosity, surface tension, and carrier formulation all affect the velocity of droplets. The deposition pattern is also crucial for modifying the release profile.
Optimised Powder-Based Printing
Optimised powder-based pharmaceutical printing is a promising method to produce highly controlled drug dosage forms. The process involves the use of two types of inks, a water-based one and a polymeric one.
The process parameters that influence the wettability of the powders are the particle size, flowability of the powder bed, and ink spray pattern. Particle size, ink particle morphology, and the number of ink droplets all affect layer height. The lower the layer height, the more precise the fabrication. Also, a higher packing density means that the tablet will be more robust. However, a too-dense powder package will restrict water penetration, which will reduce disintegration speed. The particle size distribution and morphology of the excipients are also determinants of tablet porosity.
Three-Dimensional Printability
Three-dimensional printability: Optimised powder-based pharmaceutical printing can produce tablets with multiple active substances that have different dissolution profiles. It requires a thorough knowledge of the drug pharmacokinetics and patient’s condition.
Optimised powder-based pharmaceutical printing needs a well-defined powder bed-based blend. The optimal blend should have good flow, wettability, and consolidation properties. Starch and lactose are two good starting points. Furthermore, starch has excellent wettability and prevents bleeding. Both of these are suitable for 3D printing.
Regulatory Aspects
When it comes to pharmaceutical printing, there are many regulatory aspects to keep in mind. This is critical, since compromised data can have long-lasting effects on pharmaceutical companies. It is also important that the print vendor understands and follows HIPAA and other applicable regulations.
Pharma companies must also follow regulations regarding the use of 3-D printing technology. They need to ensure that 3-D printers are safe for the pharmaceutical industry and do not violate the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) guidance on drug manufacturing. They should also be aware that raw materials and 3-D printers can vary widely. Therefore, coordination with early adopters is important in order to address challenges and improve the quality of 3-D printed products.
3D Printing Technology
As 3D printing technology becomes more widely used, it is critical that the regulatory environment for these products be clear and accurate. There are numerous regulatory gaps, including those related to point-of-care manufacturing and the distribution of medicines. Despite these challenges, 3D printers are quickly becoming a reality.
Regulatory aspects of pharmaceutical printing press company include those relating to biosimilars and biologics. While a certificate in this subject is a standalone course, it can also be part of an MS in Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance. If you plan on pursuing this certificate, you should contact the School of Pharmacy’s program coordinator for more details.
Pharmacies can benefit from improved reliability in their printing process by outsourcing to a managed print service provider. These services can help reduce costs and streamline processes, which will allow pharmacists to focus on serving customers. They also allow for collaboration and research and development.
