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

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.