Novel 3D printed biocompatible capsule with integrated macroscale triggerable anti-cancer drug delivery systems

In this project, the main objective is to develop a portable and integrated device that is suitable for the macro length scales relevant to human applications under externally applied magnetic fields. A novel release mechanism for the drug delivery system was investigated and optimized, which was aiming to realize remote and accurate control of the location, time, duration and amount of released drug. This study was separated into four tasks: (1) Preparation and optimization of magnetic sponges: Iron oxide nanoparticles, including magnetite (Fe3O4) and carbonyl iron, were embedded as magnetosensitive materials in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) resins for the fabrication of macroporous sponges via a sugar-template process. These magnetic sponges prepared with various sugar mold, magnetic particles content, weight ratios of PDMS prepolymer and curing agents display different porosity and magnetic field sensitivity. (2) Development of anticancer drug solution: A drop-on-powder 3D printer was applied to produce tablets with varying diameters. Pure 5-fluorouracil (FLU) solution of 2.5% (w/v) concentration and polymeric solutions containing either Soluplus alone or in combination with polyethylene glycol at drug: polymer(s) 1:1 (w/w) ratio was used to develop the coating solution on 3D printed tablets. According to the in vitro dissolution profiles, pure FLU solution was selected. (3) Design and characterization of a novel 3D printed drug delivery system: A novel magnetically triggerable drug delivery device composed of the optimized magnetic PDMS sponge cylinder and a 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA) reservoir was designed, fabricated and characterized. The switching “on” state of drugreleasing could be realized by the magnetic bar contacted with the side part of the device as the times needed to release 50%, 80% and 90% of 5-fluorouracil were observed to be 20, 55 and 140 min, respectively. In contrast, the switching “off” state of drug-releasing could be realized by the magnetic bar placed at the iv bottom of the device where only 10% of 5-fluorouracil could be released within 12 h. (4) Development of anti-inflammatory drug loaded filaments for fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printed reservoir: Various release modifying excipients were used as a release modulating tool to control the drug release from 3D printed sustained release tablets. All ibuprofen (the model drug) loaded 3D printed tablets with ethyl cellulose (the polymeric matrix) matrix, especially with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the release modifier, showed great potential in releasing ibuprofen in a zero-order reactio