On eco-friendliness and 3D printing of pharmaceuticals

3D drug printing is an innovative approach to tablet fabrication, offering significant potential for personalized medicine by enabling drug customization and addressing drug shortage. This method reduces reliance on mass production and promotes decentralised pharmaceutical manufacturing through compact, portable equipment. As the technology gains wider adoption, evaluating its environmental impact becomes crucial.

Producing 3D-printed tablets requires printable excipients in addition to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to ensure product stability and efficacy. This study evaluates the eco-friendliness of these excipients by examining their aquatic toxicity, biodegradability, and environmental persistence. The analysis draws on data from available literature, supplier information, and databases.

Moreover, we briefly discuss the sustainability aspects of 3D drug printing hardware, including design considerations and energy consumption. A focus is placed on two widely utilized techniques in this field: fused deposition modeling (FDM) and semi-solid extrusion (SSE) printing. These methods exemplify cutting-edge advancements in 3D pharmaceutical manufacturing.

This perspective review thus provides a comprehensive assessment of the environmental sustainability of 3D-printed drug formulations and machinery. By offering insights into eco-friendly practices, it serves as a foundation for sustainable development in both industrial and pharmacy applications.