3D printing of intrauterine device loaded with silver sulfadiazine to the treatment of fungal diseases

Women's health is gaining attention with advancements in medical research and technology focused on addressing unique healthcare challenges and improving the overall well-being of women. Therefore, the main goal of the present study is to develop and manufacture drug delivery devices for fungal treatment concerning women's health attention. Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were manufactured by hot melt extrusion (HME) and fused-deposition modeling (FDM (TM)). Drug-loaded prototypes were manufactured combining EVA and TPU matrices with silver sulfadiazine (AgSD). EVA and TPU were loaded with 10 and 20% theoretical drug load resulting in desired intrauterine device geometries. The devices' physicochemical, mechanical properties, and in vitro drug release were characterized. Drug release presented a burst release due to surface agglomerates of AgSD and controlled release after this initial behavior. EVA and TPU samples released from 36 to 66 mu g/day. The mechanical properties were minimally affected since flexural modulus was around 1.3 MPa and stress at 5% strain was 4.8 MPa. The HME and FDM printing was successfully used to produce polymeric devices with the incorporation of silver sulfadiazine into the polymeric matrix. The EVA and TPU devices released for 30 days, showing promising results for the local delivery systems.