Printing the way to a heathier future

Researchers at The University of Queensland are testing the limits of 3D printing technology, using it in innovative ways to improve health and wellbeing.

From dental reconstructions and implants to personalised medication, this Research and Innovation Week we are highlighting some of the unique projects being conducted within the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences.

PHARMACY

Two gloved hands each holding small round orange pills

3D printed powder pills. Image: UQ School of Pharmacy

Medication is not one size fits all, so what if you could tailor your medication to exactly what you need?

This is the focus of research being conducted at UQ’s School of Pharmacy by PhD students Liam Krueger and Zheng (John) Zheng alongside the team led by Associate Professor Amirali Popat and Dr Jared Miles.

The team are utilising two different types of 3D printing to personalise medication, trialling how the technology can be used to create pills with unique aesthetics as well as dosages tailored to the consumer.

Left to right: Associate Professor Amirali Popat, PhD student John Zheng, Dr Jared Miles, PhD student Liam Krueger.

“Through 3D printing we can create medication specifically for the individual it is intended for, meaning they are getting the best results for their health and wellbeing,” Mr Krueger said.

“The technology also allows us to change the size, shape, colour and even the taste of a pill.

Samples of pills created using 3D printing

“Imagine how convenient it would be to have a pill for a heart condition in the shape of a heart, or pink in colour.

“It also means that we can combine five pills into one, which would be a game changer for anyone who has to take multiple pills, multiple times a day and can help to reduce polypharmacy.”

Associate Professor Amirali Popat and PhD Student Liam Krueger

Roughly two-thirds of Australians aged 75 years and over are affected by polypharmacy, which is the concurrent use of five of more medicines and can have adverse health effects on the individual.

The team’s vision sees the research revolutionising the pharmaceutical industry in the future, providing onsite printing in hospitals and pharmacies.

3D printer with printed sample pills

However, Mr Zheng says that there is still a while to go before the vision turns into reality.

“The last decade has seen great developments in the pharmaceutical landscape with the use of 3D printing, but there are still a lot of untapped opportunities,” Mr Zheng said.

PhD student John Zheng and Dr Jared Miles

“While the machinery and materials are all available, there are still a number of logistical challenges that need to be addressed before it can be adopted into medical institutions.”

One of those challenges includes the printing time, with a singular, standard sized ten-millimetre diameter by three-millimetre height pill estimated to take around three minutes to print. With a whole batch of 28, taking around 45 minutes.

3D printer with powder based printed pills

There is also currently no clear legislation in Australia around the use of 3D printing dosage forms, and nothing in the way of customising the dosages especially in compounding pharmacies.

The team hope that their research will help to take steps towards increased regulatory approval so that consumers and patients can reap all the benefits.

Sample pills developed with 3D printing technology

Associate Professor Amirali Popat, Zheng (John Zheng), Dr Jared Miles and Liam Krueger wearing safety goggles and lab coats while standing in a laboratory.

Left to right: Associate Professor Amirali Popat, PhD student John Zheng, Dr Jared Miles, PhD student Liam Krueger.

Two gloved hands each holding small oval-shaped pills

Samples of pills created using 3D printing

Associate Professor Amirali Popat and PhD Student Liam Krueger

A black 3D printer in a laboratory. One row of oval-shaped pills and one row of round pills are resting on the printer.

3D printer with printed sample pills

PhD student John Zheng and Dr Jared Miles

A 3D printer in a laboratory. Three small dishes containing pills are in front of the printer.

3D printer with powder based printed pills

A close up of two rows of pills resting on the bottom of a 3D printer.

Sample pills developed with 3D printing technology

DENTISTRY

A purple surface with 3D-printed dental scaffolding resting on it. A gloved hand is reaching towards a piece of the scaffolding with a pair of tweezers.

Image: UQ School of Dentistry melt electro-writing printed scaffolding

While there are still leaps and bounds to be made in the use of 3D printing in the pharmaceutical landscape, other industries such as dentistry have regularly taken advantage of the technology.

Researchers at UQ’s School of Dentistry are now aiming to utilise the technology to treat periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease.

A 3D printer with many parts and wires inside an open glass case

Melt electro-writing printer technology

Scaffolding printed using melt electro-writing

A long and narrow white rectangle of dental scaffolding resting on a grey surface

Scaffolding printed using melt electro-writing

A computer screen in a laboratory displaying a model of a lower jaw implant for 3D printing

Lower jaw implant created by 3D printer

A 3D printer enclosed in a stainless steel box. A 3D-printed lower human jaw implant is resting on the printer.

3D printer with lower jaw implant

Approximately 42.2 per cent of adults in America have periodontitis which causes the breakdown of both the periodontal ligament attached to the tooth and the supporting bone around the root of the tooth.

This can result in a number of problems including the loosening of teeth, receding gums, abscess formation and eventual tooth loss.

Melt electro-writing printer technology

Head of UQ’s School of Dentistry, Professor Saso Ivanovski is the lead researcher on a project using 3D printing to develop a scaffold that regenerates tissue lost from periodontitis.

“Current conventional treatment of destructive periodontitis, involving deep cleaning, can arrest the disease but does not usually regain the bone support or connective tissue lost in the disease process,” Professor Ivanovski said.

Scaffolding printed using melt electro-writing

“Guided tissue regeneration is an existing surgical procedure that specifically aims to regenerate the periodontal tissues.

“However, it does not reliably achieve attachment to tooth root or have control over healing of different tissues which is vital for successful periodontal regeneration.

Scaffolding printed using melt electro-writing

“That’s where this new scaffolding comes into play.

“It essentially guides new periodontal ligament tissue to resemble the native and healthy periodontal anatomy comprised of a complex hard-soft tissue interface of bone-ligament-tooth cementum.

Lower jaw implant created by 3D printer

“It's also made of polycaprolactone, a biodegradable polyester, produced by melt electro-writing and is fully resorbable, eliminating the need for implant removal.”

The team at UQ’s Centre for Orofacial Regeneration, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation are also using 3D printing to create biodegradable implants to rebuild human bones and gum tissue.

3D printer with lower jaw implant

This includes the printing of custom scaffolds for treatment of mandible (lower jaw) or maxilla (upper jaw) horizontal and vertical bone defects for the purpose of reconstructing the patient’s chewing function and appearance.

Media: Bridget Druery, b.druery@uq.edu.au, @UQHealth.