The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) has commissioned the world’s first validated 3D printer for the production of drug tablets. The device was commissioned at LSMU’s Faculty of Pharmacy and opens up new possibilities.
According to faculty head Prof. Jurga Bernatonienė, 3D printing enables personalized medicines tailored to patients. Efficacy can also be increased by combining multiple active ingredients in one tablet, she said. Different coatings on the tablets can be used to control the release of active ingredients, he said.
LSMU has been preparing for this development for years, Bernatonienė said. Previously, no validated 3D printers for drug manufacturing were available on the market. Now, he said, they were one of the first universities to be able to purchase such a validated device.
Already the first drugs were printed with indigenous plant active ingredients. According to the dean of the faculty, 3D printing technology is one of the top 10 innovations worldwide. She said it offers new opportunities for the education of pharmacy students.
Prof. Valdas Jakštas also sees great potential for customized and “smart” drugs through 3D printing. In 10 to 15 years, this technology could be widespread in pharmacies, Bernatonienė believes. Sensors in the tablets could be used to monitor the release of active ingredients.
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