What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: CBD.

Where was this research published?

Published in Pharmaceutics on August 20, 2026.

3D-printed CBD tablets may offer more controlled drug release

Q: What did this research study find?

*Semi-solid extrusion 3D printing* produced tablets with similar dimensions and mass to hot-moulded tablets, but with **greater porosity and more heterogeneous internal structures**.

Mechanistic Comparison of Semi-Solid Extrusion 3D-Printed Printlets and Hot-Moulded Tablets: Linking Polymer-API Interactions, Microstructure, and Dissolution of Plant-Based Formulations.

Pharmaceutics • August 20, 2026 • Relevant

🤖

AI Summary

This study compared semi-solid extrusion 3D printing with conventional hot moulding for tablets containing plant-based active ingredients, including cannabidiol (CBD). Both methods produced tablets with similar dimensions and mass, but their strength, internal structure, and drug-release behaviour varied depending on the formulation.

The 3D-printed tablets were generally more porous and internally heterogeneous than moulded tablets, which helped liquids enter the tablets and allowed the active ingredients to diffuse out more readily. Their drug release reached approximately 95%. Formulations made with agar-pectin formed a denser, more cohesive structure and released their active ingredients more slowly, while gelatine-pectin produced a more porous matrix. In gelatine-pectin printlets, adding the active ingredients increased void volume from 1.15% to 8.77%. For cannabis products, the findings suggest that 3D printing could offer greater control over tablet structure and release, although this study examined release and formulation performance rather than effects in cannabis users.

💡 Key Findings

Semi-solid extrusion 3D printing produced tablets with similar dimensions and mass to hot-moulded tablets, but with greater porosity and more heterogeneous internal structures.

Good

75%

The 3D-printed formulations showed enhanced active-ingredient release of approximately 95%, linked to increased porosity and easier molecular diffusion.

High

80%

Agar-pectin formed a denser, more cohesive matrix associated with slower release, whereas weaker interactions in gelatine-pectin created a more porous structure that facilitated release.

High

80%

In gelatine-pectin printlets, active-ingredient incorporation increased void volume from 1.15% to 8.77%, supporting a structural explanation for enhanced diffusion.

High

80%

The authors conclude that semi-solid extrusion 3D printing offers greater tunability and performance than conventional moulding for personalised plant-based formulations.

Good

70%

📄 Original Abstract

Background: Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is rapidly advancing personalised medicine, yet systematic performance comparison with conventional manufacturing remains limited, particularly for plant-based formulations. Methods: This study compared tablets containing plant-based APIs (cannabidiol, apigenin, and luteolin) produced via conventional hot moulding and semi-solid extrusion (SSE) 3DP. The formulations were evaluated for physicochemical, mechanical, rheological, structural, and drug-release properties. Results: Both manufacturing methods produced tablets with comparable dimensions and mass; however, pronounced formulation-dependent differences were observed in mechanical strength, rheology, and microstructure. The molecular modelling predictions were consistent with the experimental findings. Agar-pectin exhibited the strongest predicted polymer-polymer and polymer-API interactions, including multiple hydrogen bonds, and formed a comparatively dense and cohesive matrix associated with slower API release. In contrast, the weaker interactions predicted for gelatine-pectin were associated with a less cohesive and more porous matrix that facilitated medium penetration, API diffusion, and drug release. SSE printlets generally exhibited greater porosity and more heterogeneous internal architectures than moulded tablets, resulting in enhanced drug release of approximately 95%. Micro-CT analysis provided important structural confirmation; API incorporation increased the void volume of gelatine-pectin printlets from 1.15% to 8.77%, demonstrating that disruption of polymer interactions contributed to pore formation and enhanced molecular diffusion. The observed release behaviour correlated with predicted molecular interactions and experimentally observed microstructural features, where increased porosity and weaker polymer-API interactions facilitated enhanced drug diffusion. Conclusions: Overall, SSE-3DP outperformed conventional moulding, demonstrating superior tunability and performance. This work provides a mechanistically informed strategy for designing plant-based, personalised natural products using 3DP technologies.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Pharmaceutics
Published: August 20, 2026
PMID: 42654152
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics18081035

Authors (6)

Emilija Nemickaite Department of Drug Technology and Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu pr. 13, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Pooja Todke Department of Drug Technology and Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu pr. 13, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Vaidotas Cicenas Ultrasound Research Institute, Kaunas University of Technology, K. Barsausko Str. 59, LT-51423 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Elena Jasiūnienė Ultrasound Research Institute, Kaunas University of Technology, K. Barsausko Str. 59, LT-51423 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Mindaugas Marksa Department of Analytical and Toxicological Chemistry, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania.
+1 more authors