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Fused Deposition Modelling: Advances in Engineering and Medicine

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3D Printing of Pharmaceuticals

Part of the book series: AAPS Advances in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Series ((AAPS,volume 31))

Abstract

Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is a material extrusion process that utilises thermoplastic polymers to construct objects in an additive manner. This singular platform offers new prospects for the fields of engineering and medicine, making it a widely applicable 3D printing technology. As such, FDM has multitude applications ranging from prototyping and consumer products to industrial processing. Known for its low cost, diversity, portability and simplicity, this technology has the potential to revolutionise the field of medicine by providing means to introduce innovative concepts, including dual printing and contemporaneous forms of drug delivery systems. Its ability to precisely design and fabricate novel structures allows more control over drug performance, enhancing the quality of treatment and avoiding constraints often imposed by conventional manufacturing processes. This chapter overviews the current industrial advancements of the FDM technology in engineering and medicine, discussing the potential advantages of implementing this technique in pharmaceutical production and providing an insight on its current limitations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutics, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK

    Atheer Awad, Simon Gaisford & Abdul W. Basit

  2. FabRx Ltd., Ashford, Kent, UK

    Simon Gaisford & Abdul W. Basit

Authors
  1. Atheer Awad
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  2. Simon Gaisford
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  3. Abdul W. Basit
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Atheer Awad .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutics, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom

    Abdul W. Basit

  2. Department of Pharmaceutics, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom

    Simon Gaisford

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© 2018 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists

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Awad, A., Gaisford, S., Basit, A.W. (2018). Fused Deposition Modelling: Advances in Engineering and Medicine. In: Basit, A., Gaisford, S. (eds) 3D Printing of Pharmaceuticals. AAPS Advances in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Series, vol 31. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90755-0_6

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