Preliminary Development of Three-Dimensional Printed Collagen Ocular Inserts With Acetazolamide Nanocrystals
摘要
This work explores the application of three dimensional printing to fabricate ocular inserts using collagen-based inks loaded with acetazolamide, aiming to develop controlled drug release platforms for glaucoma treatment. Two types of printable inks were formulated: one containing pure acetazolamide and the other incorporating acetazolamide nanocrystals. The rheological behavior of the inks was evaluated to ensure adequate printability and material stability during processing. Inserts were fabricated by extrusion-based printing using a 60% infill density, selected to balance internal porosity with sufficient drug loading. The dimensional analysis of the printed inserts showed high fidelity to the digital design, confirming the suitability of the inks for three dimensional printing. Scanning electron microscopy revealed differences in surface morphology between the two formulations, associated with the particle size and dispersion of the drug within the collagen matrix. Water uptake tests demonstrated comparable hydration capacity between both types of inserts, indicating that the incorporation of acetazolamide nanocrystals did not significantly alter the hydrophilic behavior of the collagen network. These results highlight the feasibility of using three dimensional printing with drug-loaded collagen inks to produce structurally consistent and hydrophilic ocular inserts for potential therapeutic applications.