Printed medicines a new technology and a coming medical revolution

The Lebanese have become the traveler and the expatriate all he wants to bring is medicine - Pixabi

3D printing technologies help design medical devices using additive manufacturing. 3D medical devices are developed using a few layers of basic raw materials. 3D printing technology is flexible and enables designers to change any aspect without the need for additional tools.

3D printing software for medical devices performs multiple tasks including printing, analysis, design, planning and simulation as well as visualization and is thus in great demand in the global healthcare sector.

Digital biology is the foundation of the future pharmaceutical industry and tech giants are seeking their share of the pie

It is expected that a three - dimensional printing software market for medical devices up to US $ 657.08 million by 2027 , a compound annual growth rate of 17.62%, and it also reported a platform "Madgajit" (Medgadget) recently.

This is about 3D printing of medical devices, but what about drugs? Can pills be made using 3D printing? Can this technology be used in another more important dimension, which is to provide “Personalized Medications” tailored to each person according to their health and physical condition?

Elusive medical goal

Every human in this world has a body that is unique to some extent, and no human body is like another body, yes we are similar in general form, but every person's body is something very special, and it is like a fingerprint, we all have fingerprints but no fingerprint matches with The other never quite.

The same applies to medical conditions, they are similar but not identical as well, so regardless of the diagnosis, how can we expect the same treatment or medicine to work for all humans?

Medicines customized for every case and every person are a great medical goal for humanity, but it is a difficult goal, and in this context, scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, have created a new technology using a 3D printing system, which allows making “custom medicines” with very simple machines, according to What was stated in the research they published on the university platform recently.

Printing medicines using a "compact system" is a very important goal for clinicians, as it not only allows medicines to be made in hospitals - that is, close to patients - but also makes it easier to manufacture medicines in remote locations, which are difficult to reach everywhere around the world.

In fact, scientists say that 3D printers can help make medicines in the patient's home, and "custom medicine" does not mean that each person will get unique and made drugs alone, no, but the same drugs can be modified to suit each case, making sure The drug dose is very accurate, and this new 3D printing system is helping to achieve that.

The genius of simplicity

The new system is based on a small 3D printer the size of a coffee machine with a 3D print head, a place for a smartphone, and a container to put the drug solution in.

The method of work is very easy and simple; At first, the patient or the medical staff receives the drug composition assigned to the patient, which includes a specific dose of the drug, then the drug solution is poured with a special chemical into the container designated for the drug solution, and then comes the role of using the medical application to carry out the operation in the smartphone where the device uses the light of the phone screen Smart to solidify the drug and turn it into a pill.

Scientists in the laboratories of the University's Faculty of Medicine have conducted many important tests using different drugs and different smartphones, and have already been able to print medicines containing "Warfarin", a commonly used blood thinner, in different doses, sizes and shapes, and the scientists realize that their method still needs to be done. They will be subject to formal public safety checks, but if the trials go smoothly as expected, this will serve as a stepping stone towards "more personalized medicine", a long-time dream of scientists.

Many challenges to achieve the dream

In this context, Professor Abdelbaset, senior author of the study and team leader, said: “There are still many challenges to realize this dream, but we hope that 3D printed medicines will facilitate treatment in sensitive points of care such as hospital emergency departments, operating rooms, as well as in remote areas, and we hope that one day it will be in people’s homes as well.”

Of course, printed medicines will not replace all medicines, but nevertheless, it is a very ambitious goal, and perhaps one day it will be possible to make personalized medicines for you in your home, everything is possible in the era of the fourth industrial revolution and the era of 3D printers.