3D-Printed Nanocrystals for Oral Administration of the Drugs

Over the past 10 years, the number of poorly soluble drugs has increased steadily, and it is estimated that 90% of drugs in the discovery pipeline are facing solubility problems. Despite the enormous advantages of nanocrystals in improving the oral bioavailability of many drugs, few products currently use this technology. The conversion of these systems into solid dosage forms for oral administration is a challenge, as their physical stability could be compromised if conventional processes such as compaction are applied. Therefore, it is necessary to explore alternative technologies that allow the development of solid formulations based on nanocrystals without affecting their physicochemical properties. One of the strategies with the greatest potential are additive manufacturing methods, such as 3D printing (3DP).

This chapter discusses the challenges of oral drug delivery, how nanocrystals can contribute to overcoming these challenges, and the opportunities generated by 3DP in the production of pharmaceutical forms of nanocrystals for oral delivery.