3D Printing in Hospital Pharmacy Questionnaire |
Introduction
3D printing is an innovative technology that is forecast to transform pharmacy practice, moving away from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ treatment approach towards personalisation. Using this technology, printlets (3D printed tablets) with tailored characteristics, including flexible geometries, dosages, drug release profiles and multi-drug combinations can be produced, unique to each individual patients. FabRx, a spin-out company from University College London (UCL) School of Pharmacy have pioneered the use of 3D printing in the pharmaceutical space, and in 2019 ran the world’s first clinical study in children using their 3D printing platform.
There is a huge potential for this technology to revolutionise clinical pharmacy practice. Imagine that you could print any medicine of virtually any shape, size and dosage on demand, or if you could combine more than one medicine into the tablet immediately at the point of care; implementing a 3D printer into a hospital pharmacy could make this a possibility. Tailoring formulations in this way to meet the individual needs of each patient could improve efficacy, reduce side effects and reduce non-compliance. Success in this technology could also prevent medicines shortages and reduce the need for specials manufacture and transportation (so no more lengthy waiting times!).
There is a huge potential for this technology to revolutionise clinical pharmacy practice. Imagine that you could print any medicine of virtually any shape, size and dosage on demand, or if you could combine more than one medicine into the tablet immediately at the point of care; implementing a 3D printer into a hospital pharmacy could make this a possibility. Tailoring formulations in this way to meet the individual needs of each patient could improve efficacy, reduce side effects and reduce non-compliance. Success in this technology could also prevent medicines shortages and reduce the need for specials manufacture and transportation (so no more lengthy waiting times!).
To advance 3D printing into everyday pharmacy practice, the types of treatments that it could benefit need to be identified. As such, this questionnaire will explore your thoughts around this. We have identified a few potential applications for 3D printing in hospital pharmacy, which are highlighted in the following questions to guide you.