3D printing is a novel approach in the pharmaceutical field, but its usage has not been fully established. This method can promote drug therapy and overcome some traditional treatment challenges in different ways that are discussed in this paper. “One-size-fits-all”, Large-scale production, and less patient and physician acceptability are some limitations that we will encounter in traditional therapy. Three-dimensional printing of pharmaceutical products is a versatile technology that needs specific attention. Droplet-based, extrusion-based, and laser-assisted 3D printers are three main techniques that can be used in this field. The limitations and advantages of this method have been discussed, highlighting potential innovative pathways towards the possibility of drug carriers' usage in ink formulas. The administration pathway of drug-loaded composites is another critical issue in drug treatment strategies that have been discussed here. Oral drug delivery as a convenient method of systemic drug administration with significant patient preference is introduced as the most prevalent pathway that has been studied about 3D printed medicines. Finally, essential ethics and future directions of 3D printing in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries are outlined.

This paper presents a new design strategy to improve the flexibility and strength-to-weight ratio of polymeric stents. The proposed design introduces a variable-thickness (VT) stent that outperforms conventional polymeric stents with constant thickness (CT). While polymeric stents offer benefits like flexibility and bioabsorption, their mechanical strength is lower compared to metal stents. To address this limitation, thicker polymer stents are used, compromising flexibility and clinical performance. Leveraging advancements in 3D printing, a new design approach is introduced in this study and is manufactured by the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 3D printing method and PLA resin. The mechanical performance of CT and VT stents is compared using the Finite Element Method (FEM), validated by experimental tests. Results demonstrate that the VT stent offers significant improvements compared to a CT stent in bending stiffness (over 20%), reduced plastic strain distribution of expansion (over 26%), and increased radial strength (over 10%). This research showcases the potential of the VT stent design to enhance clinical outcomes and patient care.