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Assignment #2: Write a summary of one of the articles you are reading for your project paragraph by paragraph. One or two sentences per paragraph is fine. You must do this in your own words. No significant amount of text can be copied from the abstract or any part of the paper.

The topic for my project is the effect of 3D printing on the pharmaceutical industry.

Three-Dimensional Printing in Pharmaceutics : Promises and Problems Deng Guang Yu, Li-Min Zhu, Christopher J. Branford-White, Xiang Liang Yang Journal of Pharmacetufical Sciences, Vol. 97, 3666-3690 (2008) DOI: 10.1002/jps.21284 Source: []
 * [Cannot grade without working DOI JCB]**


 * __Introduction__**
 * Three-dimensional printing (3DP) was developed at MIT using CAD software
 * 3DP works by layering powder onto a bed, adding printing/binding fluid in a specific pattern to create a layer. The bed is lowered and subsequent layers are created


 * Because of 3DP's flexibility with choice of materials, it is ideal for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
 * Can assist with controlled-release (CR) formulations


 * Studies show that more online searches are being done for "three-dimensional printing" and "drug delivery systems (DDS)," therefore there's a rise of interest in the field


 * 3DP can assist with many different varieties of DDS as opposed to the traditional solid dosage forms.


 * __Opportunities__**
 * Traditional dosage forms rely solely on the chemical properties of the excipients to create CR formulas.
 * There are other techniques, but most are too advanced for typical manufacturing, but may be applicable for 3DP


 * 3DP has the potential to solve many problems with traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing today and in the future.

__Advantages__
 * Tablets produced by 3DP "can achieve high performance in the reproduciblity, accurate dosage, and accurate control of the desired release profiles."

__Flexibility and Resourcefulness__
 * Most DDS are comprised of polymer systems that can introduce extra steps and errors into the manufacturing.
 * No known studies of these effects from 3DP, mainly because they don't exist


 * Because the software used with 3DP is so precise, the physical properties of the product can be customized down to the micro-scale


 * 3DP allows for the entire dosage form to be prepared in one location/step, as opposed to the traditional method which involves multiple.


 * 3DP brings in a specific amount of control in two fields: the process parameters (the physical movements of the printer) and the system parameters (the compositions of the products used)

__Unique Product Performance__
 * 3DP products are superior because they can have accurate dosages at minuscule levels, the release profiles (how well, how quickly, and how evenly) are reproducible, and scale up is easy


 * 3DP preformed better than direct compression and wet granulation methods

__Fast Rate__
 * 3DP has a much faster and cheaper turn out rate than traditional manufacturing


 * It allows for smaller, more accurate batches to be made, which is ideal for R&D and for biological testing


 * Don Monkhouse (my boss!) reported that twenty different dosages forms were made for 5 different formulations from one powder blend--simultaneously!
 * This is achieved by changing the number of layers in each wafer and the speed at which the print head moves, but keeping the flow of the binder constant


 * The scale up between R&D and full scale production can be reached faster and more efficiently with 3DP. Also it requires less validation


 * The FDA requires a bioequivalency study on any drug that has an alteration in "composition, process, scale, or site of manufacturing." Since 3DP uses the same methods and instrumentation at every scale, this is much easier to do.


 * 3DP has other rapid prototyping (RP) uses besides pharmaceutical, such as medical implants and tissue/organ engineering.


 * 3D Printers are now commercially available and can produce 20,000 tablets per hour.


 * 3DP are used at ambient temperatures, which is beneficial for the excipients/binders and puts the tablets in the same environment as when they will be ingested


 * The versatility of 3DP expands the opportunities of what types of materials can be used (other manufacturing systems are severely limited)


 * High speed. Low cost. The pharmaceutical company's dream.


 * 3DP is a forerunner of manufacturing capabilities, especially compared to traditional methods


 * Because of the high level of customization of the product, they can come in different colors or have "anticounterfeiting labels" printed or embossed into them


 * 3DP is "safe, effective and convenient," which makes it a contender against traditional pharmaceuticals.


 * __Novel Strategies for Preparing Oral Controlled-Release Dosage Forms__**

__Zero-Order Release Drug Delivery Devices (DDD)__ >
 * A lot of the research being done on 3DP is to achieve a zero-order drug release profile using different gradients and geometries
 * "A zero order mechanism ensures that a steady amount of drug is released over time, minimizing potential peak/trough fluctuations and side effects, while maximizing the amount of time the drug concentrations remain within the therapeutic window (efficacy)." ([])


 * Price Lewis et al. found that a tablet with a cylindrical shape releases the drug in a step-wise fashion (based off of the radius of the DDD)
 * Yu et al. found that the drug they studied released 98% over a 12 hour test of surface erosion.

FAQ: What are three online resources for chemistry tutoring at a college level?

1. TutorVista: [|chemistry.tutorvista.com]
 * Online whiteboard interface used to visualize concepts with instructor
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 * Includes many upper level chemistry course topics, including analytical, inorganic, physical, biochemistry, etc.
 * Has a subscription rate of $99.99/month, but unlimited number of sessions available
 * Ideal for upper level students looking for a personally crafted curriculum

2. Khan Academy: [|khanacademy.org]
 * Detailed videos explaining many fundamental concepts of general and organic chemistry
 * Videos are free and always accessible, making them good for basic review at any level
 * Includes many practice problems, interactive challenges and quizzes to test knowledge
 * Ideal for freshman and sophomore level students, but good as a refresher for upper level

3. Chegg: []
 * A free subscription allows the user to view step-by-step explanations of odd textbook solutions
 * A paid subscription gives access to odd and even textbook solutions
 * Many textbooks available for both lower and upper level courses
 * Ideal for most college courses, provided the student can teach themselves through examples