Work

Effects of excipient particle size range on the performance of selective laser sintered pharmaceutical printlets

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates how the particle size range (PSR) of the polymeric component in a powder mixture affects the structural strength and drug release rate of additively manufactured pharmaceutical tablets (printlets). These printlets were fabricated via Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) of a powder mixture that was comprised of Carbamazepine (drug), Kollidon SR (excipient/polymer) and Candurin sheen (laser absorbing agent). In this study, three PSR of the polymer were evaluated for their manufacturability, microstructure, and their eventual influence on performance (tablet hardness and drug release rate). The results indicated that the mixtures having the larger median particle sizes (among those studied) exhibited higher crushing resistance and drug release rates within the initial 12 h.

Source: Next Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.103188

Authors: Amrutha Dinesh, Abdelrahman Ahmed, Cyrus Funkhouser, Ziyaur Rahman, Mansoor Khan, Mathew Kuttolamadom

Institution: Texas A&M University

Language: English

Topic: Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies

Subfield: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,280

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health