Åbo Akademi industrial thesis validates gel-dispensing system for point-of-care personalized dosing with high accuracy

The thesis evaluated a semi-solid extrusion process that deposits precise volumes of drug-loaded gel into molds or capsules. In bench and pilot pharmacy tests, dose uniformity stayed within 5 percent relative standard deviation across multiple active ingredients and strengths, addressing a key limitation of manual tablet splitting that produces 10-30 percent deviations in pediatric practice.

Existing 3D-printed drug platforms such as Aprecia’s ZipDose and University of Nottingham’s direct powder extrusion focus on central manufacturing; Bahman’s approach shifts production to the point of care. This aligns with EMA draft guidance on decentralized manufacturing yet leaves open questions of real-time release testing and batch documentation under EU GMP Annex 1.

The study did not include stability data beyond 30 days or formal bioequivalence testing in patients, nor did it model pharmacist workflow time or cost per dose under routine hospital conditions. Larger observational cohorts and regulatory pilot programs are required before widespread adoption.

Next steps include multi-site validation trials measuring clinical endpoints such as time to therapeutic range in pediatric oncology and geriatric polypharmacy cohorts, plus submission for CE marking or national competent authority approval within two years.