3D Pharma Printing: Personalizing & Rare Drugs

What it does

AI-3D Drug R&D Platform: Dose-Spatiotemporal Control for Personalized Meds. Enables small batches for rare/pediatric/vision-impaired groups. AI-optimized formulation boosts precision med for vulnerable.

Your inspiration

Childhood question: "Why must children split adult pills?" ignited this research. Inspired by culinary arts—where ingredients transform via technique—we use AI-3D printing to engineer drug release timing/location/dose in the gut. Solution: Digital 3D matrices replace rigid manufacturing, enabling on-demand batches for rare diseases (cutting costs 50%) and ending manual dose splitting for pediatric/geriatric precision dosing. This advances distributed pharmacy production.

How it works

Integrated Pharma 3D System Core Tech: - Drug-loaded ink cartridges (100 tablets/unit) - Direct ink writing printer - AI-pharmacokinetic model for release/dose optimization - Drug-specific formulation protocols. Workflow: Software design → G-code generation → Cartridge loading → Air-pressure printing → Drying. Innovations: Closed-system: Pre-filled cartridges ensure compliance, zero cross-contamination Pneumatic extrusion: Compressed air-driven, no mechanical contact, 5-min batch changeover Distributed production: Cartridge = 1-month supply for 3 patients Enables pharmacy hubs via logistic-distributed cartridges AI precision: Math-optimized dose/release profiles; Compartmentalized API loading for absorption compensation Rare disease focus: MS drug: Chrono/site-specific release via 3D structure (60k tablets/year/0.5m² unit = 1k patients) Pediatric micro-dosing: Eliminates splitting errors Braille/digital markings: Auto-adherence for visually impaired

Design process

R&D Journey: From Concept to Optimized Prototype Phase 1: Feasibility (Masters). Used imported DIW printers to test drug-loaded ink printability & quality metrics. Phase 2: Hardware Breakthrough. Developed pneumatic DIW printer (dose error <5%), solving costly import dependency. Phase 3: Rare Disease Focus. Targeted APIs with urgent needs: short half-life/burst release issues → achieved programmable release via 3D structure design. Phase 4: AI-Enabled Prediction. Built AI correlating structure & release behavior, replacing trial-and-error with predictive modeling. Phase 5: Small Production. Established 3D-specific quality controls: 95% batch success rate & 98% qualification rate via process optimization. Phase 6: Platformization. Launched 5 GI-targeted platforms (orodispersible/gastric/colon/sustained/precise dosing) enabling location/time/dose control without reformulation.

How it is different

Integrated Pharma 3D System: AI-Driven On-Demand Manufacturing Core Innovation: Unifies single-use drug-loaded inks, AI dosing/release models, DIW 3D printing, and disease-formulation databases into one closed-loop platform. Unique Value: (1) Pharmacy/Hospital Deployment: Direct prescription-to-printed medication (e.g., MS drug with renal-function-adjusted release curves) . Multi-Scene Expansion: Adaptable to precision nutrition, pet meds, supplements, and tactile-labeled drugs for visually impaired. (2) Rare Disease Focus: Cuts MS dosing frequency via spatiotemporal release control, reducing renal burden by 50% vs. traditional drugs. (3) Beyond Hardware: Not merely a printer/drug, but an R&D-to-production framework solving personalized medication gaps (e.g., unsuitability for renal impairment patients).

Future plans

(1) Hardware Upgrade: Boost compliance & precision (dose deviation ≤5%, output >100 tablets/hr) via motion control and new design. (2) MS Drug Acceleration: Advance preclinical/clinical programs for demyelination-specific PK optimization. (3) Formulation Library: Develop excipients/digital protocols for micro-dosing (0.1mg) & complex release kinetics. (4) B2B Ecosystem: Partner with pharmacies/hospitals for point-of-care manufacturing. (5) Rare Disease Advocacy: Present 3D printing accessibility solutions at global forums to drive regulatory reform. (6) Pilot & Compliance: Run GMP batches (1k-5k units), align with FDA/EMA for IND readiness.

Awards

First Prize, The 12th "Youth Innovation Cup" Guangzhou Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (2025) Gold Award, Postgraduate Entrepreneurship Group of Higher Education Main Track, China International College Students' Innovation Competition (2024)