Easy and affordable 3D printing of medicine using bio-compatible medical filaments with specialized drug delivery properties.
The medical field continues to adapt to the benefits offered by 3D technologies. From 3D printed human organs and model replicas, to prosthetics, and now the custom 3D medicine, the list can only get longer. The replica enables surgeons to accurately perform life-threatening surgeries with ease. And, the ongoing research on tailor made drugs printing is likely to change the whole landscape. The 3D printing in medicine, referred to as bio-printing, is set to change the medicine filed. In fact the 3D technology is positively impacting on almost every field and there is almost a new 3D possibility every other week.
Soon, it will be possible to 3D print custom medicine, which is touted to have several advantages and likely to change the pharmaceutical industry. A team of doctoral students and research staff at Louisiana Tech University are developing a technology for filaments extruders, that will make it possible to produce bio-compatible 3D filaments with special drug delivery properties. The medical implants will be used for targeted drug deliveries and will be used on the regular 3 D desktop printers.
Adding drugs into the filaments
The filament fabrication involves, adding nonoparticles and other custom additives to a bio-compatible 3D material. This will be loaded with the antibiotics and other custom medical compounds. And the implant will be broken naturally in the human body over time.
The medical quality filaments are made with specialized properties that allow them to be infused with antibacterial and chemotherapeutic drug compounds. And, will make it possible to make and deliver affordable tailor made drugs. By infusing the medical filament with the necessary dosage required by a particular patient, a doctor can easily use a standard 3-D printer for printing the drug-infused filament into the correct dosage capsules specific to the patient.
The drugs, which be made on-the-go can be created anywhere using the normal 3D desktop printers will eliminate the need for pharmacies and hospitals to wait for drug deliveries from the pharmaceuticals.