20.500.12556/DKUM-97016 Development, fabrication and application of a sectioned 3D-printed human nasal cavity model for in vitro nasal spray deposition studies In vitro models of the human nasal cavity are crucial for understanding the deposition dynamics of nasally administered drugs. Three-dimensional (3D) printing offers a powerful method for creating patient-specific, anatomically precise models for such experimental purposes. Background/Objectives: This study details the complete workflow for the development, design, and fabrication of a sectioned nasal cavity model intended for droplet deposition analysis of nasal sprays. Methods: A digital nasal cavity model was derived from medical imaging data and optimized for computer-aided design (CAD) operations. It was segmented into five therapeutically relevant regions: nasal vestibule, olfactory area, middle and upper turbinates, lower turbinate, and nasopharynx. Sections were 3D-printed in polypropylene for chemical compatibility, and a carbon fiber-reinforced fixation frame ensured precise alignment and airtight assembly. Results: Functional validation confirmed the model’s functional relevance through comparative deposition studies using automated actuation and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based regional quantification. Two devices with distinct spray characteristics (characterized separately by laser diffraction, plume geometry, and spray pattern imaging) were tested under varied administration conditions. The study demonstrated the model’s ability to discriminate between products, establishing a solid foundation for future investigations incorporating additional variables. Conclusions: Overall, the developed methodology provides a cost-effective and replicable platform for producing anatomically accurate, sectioned nasal cavity models. The newly developed in vitro system is well suited for detailed, region-specific analysis of nasal spray deposition, offering a valuable tool for pharmaceutical research and development. nasal cavity model 3D printing fused filament fabrication polypropylene medical imaging in vitro model nasal drug delivery biomedical engineering nasal spray characterization nasal cavity model deposition model nosne votline 3D tiskanje izdelava taljenih filamentov polipropilen medicinsko slikanje nosno dajanje zdravil biomedicinski inženiring pršila za nos karakterizacija nosnega pršila odlaganje modela nosne votline true false true MDPI Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/14/2/329 Članek v reviji 2026-02-11 15:02:19 2026-02-11 15:02:20 2026-02-12 03:14:21 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 22 str. issue 2, [article no.] 329 Vol. 14 Jan. 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 2025-12-12 2026-01-29 2026-01-31 616.21:004.514.66 267852803 10.3390/biomedicines14020329 2227-9059 biomedicines-14-00329.pdf biomedicines-14-00329.pdf 1 190552062FB2279F2E848D7AFEB3BD5B 2174005b12004c8a352c420c526e8f7d845a8d6c627b8f333a6b059c35490815 3afc2981-0753-11f1-b759-00155d00019a https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=203231 https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/14/2/329 0 42b4a0a7-0753-11f1-b759-00155d00019a https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=203232 Fakulteta za strojništvo 0 0 0