Raman spectroscopy as a tool to study the incorporation of ibuprofen in PLA filaments for 3D printing

Ibuprofen loaded polylactic acid (PLA) filament, as basis material for 3D printed PLA scaffolds, was produced and studied by Raman spectroscopy to evaluate the uniformity of drug content and any effects from the filament extrusion process. Ibuprofen is the most frequently prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, acting as a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor and leading to an important reduction of prostaglandins, key factors in the production of pain, fever and inflammation [1]. PLA, one of the most commonly used materials for 3D printing techniques [2], is an FDA approved biocompatible polymer of natural origin that besides its bioresorbability, also possesses appropriate rheological and mechanical properties to be used as scaffold material and as a drug carrier for wound healing and tissue engineering applications [3]. Commercial PLA filament for 3D printing was sliced, thoroughly mixed with polycrystalline ibuprofen powder (10% w/w) and fed to a filament extruder. Cross-sections of the produced filament were investigated by Raman measurements at micron-spaced points near the centre and anti-diametric areas of the filament. The intensity of the ibuprofen related Raman peaks indicates that the drug is well dispersed over the whole fibre volume. However, the Raman spectra of ibuprofen are differentiated from those of the pristine crystalline powder and resemble those of amorphous ibuprofen, pointing to a random environment of the drug molecules in PLA. These observations suggest that ibuprofen in PLA is finely dispersed yielding an excellent, homogeneously loaded filament for the fabrication of scaffolds using the fused filament fabrication printing process.

Funding This research has been co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union and Greek national funds through the perational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, under the call RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE (project code: T2EDK-01641)

 

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

• References

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• 2 Valvez S, Santos P, Parente JM, Silva MP, Reis PNB.. 3D printed continuous carbon fiber reinforced PLA composites: A short review. Procedia Structural Integrity 2020; 25: 394-399
• 3 Mohiti -Asli M, Saha S, Murphy SV, Grocz H, Pourdeyhimi B, Atala A, Loboa EG.. Ibuprofen loaded PLA nanofibrous scaffolds increase proliferation of human skin cells in vitro and promote healing of full thickness incision wounds in vivo. J Biomed Mater Res Part B 2017; 105B: 327-339

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
16. November 2023