https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:5172 Three-Dimensional Screen Printing Technology Enables Sequential Release of Carbidopa and Levodopa—A New Approach Improving Levodopa Delivery for Treating Parkinson’s Disease Enke, Marcel Marcel Enke Bünger, Moritz Moritz Bünger 0000-0002-7941-8850 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Aedtner, Emily Emily Aedtner Kastner, Stephan Stephan Kastner Gruschwitz, Franka Franka Gruschwitz Kühne, Klaus Klaus Kühne Czernik-Schulz, Dominika Dominika Czernik-Schulz Greeley, David R. David R. Greeley Volc, Dieter Dieter Volc Buzachnich-Ladinig, Andrea Andrea Buzachnich-Ladinig 0000-0001-5037-7269 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Schneeberger, Achim Achim Schneeberger MDPI journal article open access eng Introduction: Levodopa (LD) is the most efficacious antiparkinsonian drug. However, long-term conventional LD treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is frequently associated with motor complications. This can be attributed to pulsatile dopaminergic stimulation given the short LD half-life of conventional dosage forms. Tablets capable of delivering more stable and sustained dopaminergic stimulation would better mimic the brain’s natural dopamine activity. Methods: In this study, 3D screen printing technology was used to manufacture oral dosage forms characterized by the sequential release of Carbidopa and Levodopa. This was achieved by separating the two compounds into different compartments within the same dosage form, which were arranged (LXM.5-1) or formulated (LXM.5-2) in a specific way. Both novel dosage forms were compared to conventional immediate release forms such as Sinemet®. The physicochemical properties of the resulting tablets, LXM.5-1 and LXM.5-2, were assessed in accordance with the USP. Their pharmacokinetic profiles were defined in pigs. Results: The physicochemical properties of LXM.5-1 and LXM.5-2 complied with regulatory requirements. Dissolution studies revealed sequential CD and LD release for both novel dosage forms. They differed regarding the interval between CD and LD release which was shorter for LXM.5-1. PK studies demonstrated that both novel dosage forms exhibited higher LD bioavailability in comparison to Sinemet®, which was 211.36% and 383.64% for LXM.5-1 and LXM.5-2, respectively. Furthermore, blood levels were more stable and sustained, particularly for LXM.5-2. Conclusions: We conclude that 3D screen-printed LXM.5-1 and LXM.5-2 and variations thereof have the potential to transform the pharmacotherapy of Parkinson’s disease. 3D Printing Additive Manufacturing Levodopa Parkinson’s Disease Oral Dosage Forms Drug Delivery Systems http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:5172/download 10.3390/pharmaceutics17121507 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf Pharmaceutics issn:1999-4923 VoR Pharmaceutics 17 12 1.31 MB 2025