Plackett-Burman experimental design of 3D MESO-PP printing inks: in the search for optimizing the process conditions in a new modified 3D-printer machine.

BARRIENTOS, BRUNO ANDRÉS; REAL, DANIEL ANDRES; GÓMEZ, CÉSAR GERARDO; PALMA, SANTIAGO DANIEL; REAL, JUAN PABLO

Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina

Congreso; RICIFA 2023; 2023

FCQ - UNC + FCByF - UNR

3D printing has become a widely explored tool in the field of pharmaceutical research today, generally using commercial printers modified to allow for the manufacture of pharmaceutical formulations. In most cases, empirical knowledge of the printing system has led to satisfactory results that allow research to progress. However, the capabilities of the printer to produce a batch of prints with certain characteristics and with precise dosage control depends largely on the operating conditions of the printer itself and on the setted parameters for obtaining the digital file (GCode). With the objective of finding which parameters are significant for print quality and which conditions allow the highest reproducibility and dose control, a pharmaceutical ink containing PEG 4000 as a carrier polymer, Poloxamer 188 as a plasticizer and hydrochlorothiazide as model drug was formulated (72,5:2,5:25) and a Plackett-Burman experimental approach was designed. Seven factors related to 3D printer machine and the slicer software (Simplify3d) were used as input variables (printing speed, filament diameter, extrusion width, temperature, heating time, infill overlap and layer height), in addition to four response variables (Printing Effectiveness, Geometric Correlation, Printing Time and Weight Variation). With one central point, the design consisted of 13 randomized runs that were carried out considering 10 printouts for each treatment. The printing temperature and the printing speed have the greatest significance in the variables studied and are considered as crucial parameters in terms of the reproducibility of the prints and the geometric similarity with the digital file. In terms of dose control, the tests report that the lowest variation is achieved at lower speeds and lower temperature, but with longer heating time. These findings allow the planification of a complete factorial study, establishing the new field of work within the parameters of greater interference on the capabilities of the system obtained.