Recently, the development of Binder Jet 3D printing technology has promoted the research and application of personalized formulations, which are especially useful for children’s medications. Additionally, physiological pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling can be used to guide drug development and drug dose selection. Multiple technologies can be used in combination to increase the safety and effectiveness of drug administration. In this study, we performed in vivo pharmacokinetic experiments in dogs with preprepared 3D-printed levetiracetam instant-dissolving tablets (LEV-IDTs). Bioequivalence analysis showed that the tablets were bioequivalent to commercially available preparations (Spritam^®) for dogs. Additionally, we evaluated the bioequivalence of 3D-printed LEV-IDTs with Spritam^® by a population-based simulation based on the established PBPK model of levetiracetam for Chinese adults. Finally, we established a PBPK model of oral levetiracetam in Chinese children by combining the physiological parameters of children, and we simulated the PK (pharmacokinetics) curves of Chinese children aged 4 and 6 years that were administered the drug to provide precise guidance on adjusting the dose according to the effective dose range of the drug. Briefly, utilizing both Binder jet 3D printing technology and PBPK models is a promising route for personalized drug delivery with various age groups.

Currently, there is a shortage of pediatric medicines on the market, and 3D printing technology can more flexibly produce personalized medicines to meet individual needs. The study developed a child-friendly composite gel ink (carrageenan-gelatin), created 3D models by computer-aided design technology, then produced personalized medicines using 3D printing to improve the safety and accuracy of medication for pediatric patients. An in-depth understanding of the printability of different formulations was obtained by analyzing the rheological and textural properties of different gel inks and observing the microstructure of different gel inks, which guided the formulation optimization. Through formulation optimization, the printability and thermal stability of gel ink were improved, and F6 formulation (carrageenan: 0.65%; gelatin: 12%) was selected as the 3D printing inks. Additionally, a personalized dose linear model was established with the F6 formulation for the production of 3D printed personalized tablets. Moreover, the dissolution tests showed that the 3D printed tablets were able to dissolve more than 85% within 30 min and had similar dissolution profiles to the commercially available tablets. This study demonstrates that 3D printing is an effective manufacturing technique that allows for flexible, rapid, and automated production of personalized formulations.