3D printing of tailored veterinary dual-release tablets: a semi-solid extrusion approach for metoclopramide

Metoclopramide (MCP) is frequently used to control nausea and vomiting in animals, but its short half-life requires it to be administered thrice daily. In addition, commercial veterinary MCP formulations are currently lacking. As a result, veterinary practitioners often resort to off-label use of human medications, which can lead to inconsistent patient outcomes and complications arising from inadequate dosing. Thus, there is a growing recognized need for individualized treatment strategies also within veterinary practice, as they can offer tailored doses and improved options for animal patients. To address this unmet need and overcome these challenges, our study focused on developing a once-daily dual-release tailored dose for different-sized cats and dogs utilizing semi-solid extrusion (SSE) 3D printing. The dual-release system containing different cellulosic polymers is designed to provide a rapid onset and sustained action to ensure prolonged drug release and minimize the frequency of administration. The produced printing ink formulations were successfully used to obtain different-sized tailored doses with a significant correlation between the designs and the obtained drug amounts. Dissolution studies revealed the impact of polymer combinations and tablet surface area on drug release profiles. Kinetic modeling indicated that both diffusion and erosion are involved in the release mechanisms. This research emphasizes the practical use of SSE 3D printing in developing dual-release delivery systems by producing precise and pet-friendly tailored tablets to enhance veterinary treatments close to the point-of-care.