Executive Summary : | This project aims to develop a numerical framework for analyzing 3D tablet printing of polypills and disintegration processes, focusing on patient-centered polypills. Polypills are used for treating and preventing multiple medical conditions, and the pharmaceutical industry faces two challenges: selecting the right tablet-making process for higher production rates and controlled drug release performance with complex Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). Computational simulations and experimental investigations can provide insights to optimize parameters for effective drug production and release performance. 3D printing (3DP) of pharmaceutical pills can achieve patient-centered polypills using selective Laser sintering (sLs) printing technology. sLs allows for customization of medicine based on medical conditions and intended therapeutic outcomes. Drug absorption and efficacy depend on tablet disintegration and drug release performance, which impact drug dissolution, bioavailability, delivery, safety, and efficacy. sLs tablet printing can create tablets with unique drug delivery properties, improving medication effectiveness. To simulate the powder spreading and sintering process, characterization of pharmaceutical powders is necessary. Discrete element modeling (DEM) is used to model the discrete nature of powder particles, providing insights into the process parameters for achieving desired drug release performance. |