3D-Printed Multifunctional Multicompartment Polymer-Based Capsules for Tunable and Spatially Controlled Drug Release

This study presents a one-step 3D-printing strategy for fabricating multifunctional multicompartment polymer-based capsules with spatially programmable and tunable drug release profiles. The capsules integrate multiple polymers with distinct physicochemical and pH-responsive properties into a single structure, enabling sequential and site-specific release along the gastrointestinal tract. A BioFlex-based shell provided mechanical robustness and flexibility, while an Eudragit L100 cap conferred gastroresistance and pH-triggered dissolution in the small intestine. Internal compartments were loaded with gelatin and alginate–xanthan gum hydrogels containing model compounds, allowing independent modulation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic payload release. Finite element simulations guided capsule geometry and aperture design to ensure complete release following enteric coating dissolution. Experimental release studies confirmed negligible leakage under acidic gastric conditions and controlled, sequential release at neutral pH. The platform demonstrated high fabrication reproducibility, mechanical stability under simulated gastrointestinal loading, and effective compartmentalization, highlighting its potential for advanced oral drug delivery and personalized medicine.