ABSTRACT
As an effective additive manufacturing technology, 3D printing technology has been widely used in aerospace, construction, machinery manufacturing and other fields, but it is rarely used in the pharmaceutical field, especially in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In 2015, Spritam instant tablets produced by 3D printing technology greatly promoted the development and research of 3D printing technology in the pharmaceutical industry. In this paper, we reviewed three types of 3D printers (binder jet, material extrusion and inkjet printing) with high compatibility in the pharmaceutical industry, including the working principles, printing materials, product characteristics and others. In addition, the application prospects and existing problems of 3D printing technology in the production of innovative preparations of TCM, the development of innovative medical devices and the development of innovative functional foods were analyzed. The paper aimed to provide a reference for the development and preparation of innovative TCM by 3D printing technology.