The healthcare industry could benefit from the use of 3D printing technology to customise medical devices and drugs, market analyst Frost & Sullivan have said.
3D Printing
Recent research by the group’s TechVision - 3D Printing for Healthcare Applications – has shown how a large number of markets have shown interest in adopting 3D printing in a drive towards more personalised medicine
More so, the research states how 3D printing can be merged with pharma practices such as continuous manufacturing (CM) to develop various dosage forms for a specific demographic. 3D printing can also be used to bring about a change in the structure of medication, making it easier for medication to be swallowed or dissolved.
Techvision highlight how pharmacy distribution is the field most likely to be disrupted by 3D printing due to the ease of obtaining customised dosage quantities of medication.
Frost & Sullivan TechVision research analyst Madhumitha Rangesa said: “Using 3D-printed tissues for drug testing, clinical trials and toxicity testing will have a huge impact in the pharmaceutical sector, as they will help eliminate costly animal testing and use of synthetic tissues. However, traditional, large-scale manufacturing is still more economical for mass production of drugs; 3D printing will be viable for small-volume production in orphan diseases.”
Rangesa continued: “Current products being developed using 3D printing are largely in applications areas such as medical implants, surgical guides, prosthetics, orthotics, orthodontics and anatomical models for surgery. “Furthermore, a wealth of opportunities is opening up in future healthcare applications areas such as creation of bone structures, airway tracheal splints and medicine”.
Techvision highlight how the use of 3D-printing technology for designing and prototyping can help reduce wastage material. The group do state however that the industry is facing challenges in securing approval from various government regulatory bodies for medical applications of 3D printing.