3D printing, or additive manufacturing, has gained considerable interest due to its versatility regarding design as well as in the large choice of materials. It is a powerful tool in the field of personalized pharmaceutical treatment, particularly crucial for pediatric and geriatric patients. Polysaccharides are abundant and inexpensive natural polymers, that are already widely used in the food industry and as excipients in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. Due to their intrinsic properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-immunogenicity, etc., polysaccharides are largely investigated as matrices for drug delivery. Although an increasing number of interesting reviews on additive manufacturing and drug delivery are being published, there is a gap concerning the printing of polysaccharides. In this article, we will review recent advances in the 3D printing of polysaccharides focused on drug delivery applications. Among the large family of polysaccharides, the present review will particularly focus on cellulose and cellulose derivatives, chitosan and sodium alginate, printed by fused deposition modeling and extrusion-based printing.

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Polysaccharide 3D Printing for Drug Delivery Applications

Chitosan (CS) is a linear polysaccharide obtained by the deacetylation of chitin, which, after cellulose, is the second biopolymer most abundant in nature, being the primary component of the exoskeleton of crustaceans and insects. Since joining the pharmaceutical field, in the early 1990s, CS attracted great interest, which has constantly increased over the years, due to its several beneficial and favorable features, including large availability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, simplicity of chemical modifications, mucoadhesion and permeation enhancer power, joined to its capability of forming films, hydrogels and micro- and nanoparticles. Moreover, its cationic character, which renders it unique among biodegradable polymers, is responsible for the ability of CS to strongly interact with different types of molecules and for its intrinsic antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic activities. However, its pH-dependent solubility and susceptibility to ions presence may represent serious drawbacks and require suitable strategies to be overcome. Presently, CS and its derivatives are widely investigated for a great variety of pharmaceutical applications, particularly in drug delivery. Among the alternative routes to overcome the problems related to the classic oral drug administration, the mucosal route is becoming the favorite non-invasive delivery pathway. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the applications of CS and its derivatives in novel formulations intended for different methods of mucosal drug delivery.

/pdf/multiple-roles-of-chitosan-in-mucosal-drug-delivery-an-1giso2r5.pdf

Multiple Roles of Chitosan in Mucosal Drug Delivery: An Updated Review

Dexamethasone (DEX) has been widely used to treat a variety of diseases, including autoimmune diseases, allergies, ocular disorders, cancer, and, more recently, COVID-19. However, DEX usage is often restricted in the clinic due to its poor water solubility. When administered through a systemic route, it can elicit severe side effects, such as hypertension, peptic ulcers, hyperglycemia, and hydro-electrolytic disorders. There is currently much interest in developing efficient DEX-loaded nanoformulations that ameliorate adverse disease effects inhibiting advancements in scientific research. Various nanoparticles have been developed to selectively deliver drugs without destroying healthy cells or organs in recent years. In the present review, we have summarized some of the most attractive applications of DEX-loaded delivery systems, including liposomes, polymers, hydrogels, nanofibers, silica, calcium phosphate, and hydroxyapatite. This review provides our readers with a broad spectrum of nanomedicine approaches to deliver DEX safely.

Dexamethasone: Insights into Pharmacological Aspects, Therapeutic Mechanisms, and Delivery Systems

Diversified antibacterial modification and latest applications of polysaccharide-based hydrogels for wound healthcare

Chitosan/xanthan gum-based (Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-co-2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) interpenetrating hydrogels for controlled release of amorphous solid dispersion of bioactive constituents of Pueraria lobatae.

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03362316/document

S. Peers

Papers

Chitosan hydrogels incorporating colloids for sustained drug delivery.