Impact of 3D and 4D Printing on Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Additive manufacturing particularly three-dimensional (3D) and emerging four-dimensional (4D) printing, is increasingly recognized as a transformative approach for the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing. Conventional pharmaceutical production relies on centralized, large-scale batch processes designed for standardized medicines, which limits flexibility for individualized therapies. In contrast, 3D printing enables the fabrication of drug products with precise control over geometry, internal structure, dose, and spatial distribution of active pharmaceutical ingredients, supporting the growing paradigm of personalized medicine. Several pharmaceutical printing technologies including fused deposition modeling, semi-solid extrusion, inkjet printing, and stereolithography have been investigated for the production of tablets, films, implants, and drug eluting devices. These techniques allow the design of complex dosage forms, multi-drug polypills, and tailored drug release profiles. Research in this area has also demonstrated the feasibility of printable pharmaceutical formulations and advanced drug delivery systems, highlighting the potential of additive manufacturing to customize medicines while maintaining appropriate pharmaceutical properties. As these technologies mature, pharmaceutical manufacturing may gradually shift toward more flexible and decentralized environments, including hospital pharmacies. In this evolving model, pharmacists will play an increasingly important role in digital formulation design, on -demand manufacturing, quality assurance, and regulatory oversight of printed medicines.

Chair:
- Mathew Cherian, VP of Operations and R&D, ReVive Biotechnology; Member IPS ExCo, USA

Co-moderator:
- Qurrotul Aini Shodiquna, IPS Liaison at FIP ECPG, Indonesia

Panellist:
- Erem Bilensoy, Professor Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Turkey