Investigating the Properties and Characterization of a Hybrid 3D Printed Antimicrobial Composite Material Using FFF Process: Innovative and Swift.

Novel strategies and materials have gained the attention of researchers due to the current pandemic, the global market high competition, and the resistance of pathogens against conventional materials. There is a dire need to develop cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and biodegradable materials to fight against bacteria using novel approaches and composites. Fused filament fabrication (FFF), also known as fused deposition modeling (FDM), is the most effective and novel fabrication method to develop these composites due to its various advantages. Compared to metallic particles alone, composites of different metallic particles have shown excellent antimicrobial properties against common Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This study investigates the antimicrobial properties of two sets of hybrid composite materials, i.e., Cu-PLA-SS and Cu-PLA-Al, are made using copper-enriched polylactide composite, one-time printed side by-side with stainless steel/PLA composite, and second-time with aluminum/PLA composite respectively. These materials have 90 wt.% of copper, 85 wt.% of SS 17-4, 65 wt.% of Al with a density of 4.7 g/cc, 3.0 g/cc, and 1.54 g/cc, respectively, and were fabricated side by side using the fused filament fabrication (FFF) printing technique. The prepared materials were tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), Salmonella Poona (S. Poona), and Enterococci during different time intervals (5 min, 10 min, 20 min, 1 h, 8 h, and 24 h). The results revealed that both samples showed excellent antimicrobial efficiency, and 99% reduction was observed after 10 min. Hence, three-dimensional (3D) printed polymeric composites enriched with metallic particles can be utilized for biomedical, food packaging, and tissue engineering applications. These composite materials can also provide sustainable solutions in public places and hospitals where the chances of touching surfaces are higher.

Characteristics and Key Features of Antimicrobial Materials and Associated Mechanisms for Diverse Applications.

Since the Fourth Industrial Revolution, three-dimensional (3D) printing has become a game changer in manufacturing, particularly in bioengineering, integrating complex medical devices and tools with high precision, short operation times, and low cost. Antimicrobial materials are a promising alternative for combating the emergence of unforeseen illnesses and device-related infections. Natural antimicrobial materials, surface-treated biomaterials, and biomaterials incorporated with antimicrobial materials are extensively used to develop 3D-printed products. This review discusses the antimicrobial mechanisms of different materials by providing examples of the most commonly used antimicrobial materials in bioengineering and brief descriptions of their properties and biomedical applications. This review will help researchers to choose suitable antimicrobial agents for developing high-efficiency biomaterials for potential applications in medical devices, packaging materials, biomedical applications, and many more.

Comparative Experimental Investigation of Biodegradable Antimicrobial Polymer-Based Composite Produced by 3D Printing Technology Enriched with Metallic Particles.

Due to the prevailing existence of the COVID-19 pandemic, novel and practical strategies to combat pathogens are on the rise worldwide. It is estimated that, globally, around 10% of hospital patients will acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection. One of the novel strategies that has been developed is incorporating metallic particles into polymeric materials that neutralize infectious agents. Considering the broad-spectrum antimicrobial potency of some materials, the incorporation of metallic particles into the intended hybrid composite material could inherently add significant value to the final product. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate an antimicrobial polymeric PLA-based composite material enhanced with different microparticles (copper, aluminum, stainless steel, and bronze) for the antimicrobial properties of the hybrid composite. The prepared composite material samples produced with fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing technology were tested for different time intervals to establish their antimicrobial activities. The results presented here depict that the sample prepared with 90% copper and 10% PLA showed the best antibacterial activity (99.5%) after just 20 min against different types of bacteria as compared to the other samples. The metallic-enriched PLA-based antibacterial sheets were remarkably effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli; therefore, they can be a good candidate for future biomedical, food packaging, tissue engineering, prosthetic material, textile industry, and other science and technology applications. Thus, antimicrobial sheets made from PLA mixed with metallic particles offer sustainable solutions for a wide range of applications where touching surfaces is a big concern.

Effective and sustainable adsorbent materials for oil spill cleanup based on a multistage desalination process.

Oil spills, which are often caused by crude oil transportation accidents, contaminate coastal waters and land and can harm aquatic life, seabirds, humans, and the entire ecosystem. Ocean currents and wind complicate oil spill cleanup and extend the oil spill area. This study proposes a new approach to control oil spills using solids recovered from the treatment of reject brine through a novel multistage desalination process. The aim is to produce applicable adsorbent for oil spill cleanup especially in the final cleaning stages. The multistage desalination process is based on the electrochemical treatment of high-salinity reject brine and Solvay and modified Solvay liquid effluents in a closed Plexiglas electrocoagulation cell. After the electrochemical treatment, the collected solids were dried and ground for utilization as adsorbents in oil spill cleanup. Results were promising for the adsorbent produced from the electrochemical treatment of the modified Solvay effluent. A maximum adsorption capacity of 2.8 g oil/g adsorbent was achieved, with an oil recovery of 98%. In addition, the regenerated solids after toluene extraction process were recycled and achieved an adsorption capacity of 2.1 g oil/g adsorbent in the second oil spill clean-up cycle. The structural and chemical characteristics of the adsorbents produced from the multistage desalination process were investigated using X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Results support the adoption of the collected solids as effective oil-adsorbent materials.

Characteristics of antenna fabricated using additive manufacturing technology and the potential applications.

Antennas play a critical role in modern technology. They are used in various devices and applications, including wireless communication, broadcasting, navigation, military, and space. Overall, the importance of antennas in technology lies in their ability to transmit and receive signals, allowing communication and information transfer across various applications and devices. Three-dimensional printing technology creates antennas using multiple materials, including plastics, metals, and ceramics. Some standard 3D printing techniques used to create antennas include Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). These antennas can be made in various shapes and sizes. 3D printing can help create complex and customized antenna designs that are difficult or impossible to produce using traditional manufacturing methods. 3D-printing technology has many advantages for building antennas, including customization, ease of fabrication, and cost-effectiveness. This review comprehensively evaluates the usage of 3D-printing technology in antenna fabrication.

The potential of adopting natural fibers reinforcements for fused deposition modeling: Characterization and implications.

Natural fibers or their derivatives have gained significant attention as green fillers or reinforcement materials due to their abundant availability, environment-friendly nature and biodegradability for sustainable development. Despite the availability of modern alternatives such as concrete, glass-fiber/resin composites, steel, and plastics, there is still considerable demand for naturally occurring based materials for different applications due to their low cost, durability, strength, heat, sound, and fire-resistance characteristics. 3D printing has provided a novel approach to the development and advancement of natural fiber-based composite materials, as well as an important platform for the advancement of biomass materials toward intelligentization and industrialization. The features of 3D printing, particularly fast prototyping and small start-up, allow the easy fabrication of materials for a wide range of applications. This review highlights the current progress and potential commercial applications of 3D printed composites reinforced with natural fibers or biomass. This study discussed that 3D printing technology can be effectively utilized for different applications, including producing electroactive papers, fuel cell membranes, adhesives, wastewater treatment, biosensors, and its potential applications in the automobile, building, and construction industries. The research in the literature showed that even if the field of 3D printing has advanced significantly, problems still need to be solved, such as material incompatibility and material cost. Further studies could be conducted to improve and adapt the methods to work with various materials. More effort should be put into developing affordable printer technologies and materials that work with these printers to broaden the applications for 3D printed objects.

Characterization analysis of date fruit pomace: An underutilized waste bioresource rich in dietary fiber and phenolic antioxidants.

Date fruit pomace (DFP), an abundant byproduct of the date syrup industry, is currently underutilized. It is either fed to animals or landfilled where it ferments, causing serious environmental issues. Proper waste management through valorization strategies is required to reduce the environmental impact of date waste and foster the transition of the date processing industry towards sustainability. The implementation of valorization strategies requires characterizing the DFP composition. Herein, four DFP samples of Emirati varieties were characterized in terms of compositional and functional properties. The fresh DFPs contained moisture (∼60.0 g/100 g). On a dry matter basis, DFPs contained total dietary fiber (∼45.5 g/100 g), residual sugars (∼35.3 g/100 g), protein (∼10.6 g/100 g), ash (∼4.1 g/100 g), and fat (∼1.3 g/100 g). They were also rich in nutritionally important elements such as potassium (∼145.7 ppm), calcium (∼46 ppm), phosphorus (∼28.7 ppm), and magnesium (∼26.7 ppm). The total phenolic content varied from 170 to 260 mg gallic acid equivalents GAE/100 g, making DFP a good source of antioxidants. Scanning electron microscopy measurements revealed the presence of fibrous bundle-like structures, whose thermal stability was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis, showing the dominance of insoluble over soluble fiber. Higher water- and oil-holding capacities were found for dried desugared pomace. The high fiber, phenolic, and elemental content highlight the high nutritional value of DFP, which can be used as dietary supplement, while its sugar content can be used to produce value-added biochemicals via fermentation. Thus, DFP may represent a valuable bioresource for food and non-food applications.

Development and Mechano-Chemical Characterization of Polymer Composite Sheets Filled with Silica Microparticles with Potential in Printing Industry.

Polymer composite sheets using a low-cost filler (local natural sand) and polymer (high-density polyethylene, HDPE) as a replacement of the traditionally used wood-fiber-based sheets for paper-based applications were developed. The sand/polymer composite sheets were prepared by melt extrusion in a melt blender followed by compression molding. The effects of varying particle size, concentration, and the use of a compatibilizer (polyethylene-grafted maleic anhydride) was studied on the mechano-chemical performance properties of the composite sheets such as morphology, thermal and mechanical properties, and wettability characteristics used in the printing industry. In terms of thermal stability, filler (sand) or compatibilizer addition did not alter the crystallization, melting, or degradation temperatures significantly, thereby promoting good thermal stability of the prepared sheets. Compatibilization improved anti-wetting property with water. Additionally, for the compatibilized sheets prepared from 25 µm sand particles, at 35 wt%, the contact angle with printing ink decreased from 44° to 38.30°, suggesting improved ink-wetting performance. A decrease in the elastic modulus was also observed with the addition of the compatibilizer, with comparable results to commercial stone paper. Results from this study will be considered as a first step towards understanding compatibility of local natural sand and polymers for paper-based application.

ABS/Silicon Dioxide Micro Particulate Composite from 3D Printing Polymeric Waste.

In this paper, Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene matrix composites reinforced with Nano-silica dioxide particles were examined and prepared to study their mechanical properties. The composite sheets were pre-prepared using the hot extrusion process. Due to its wide characteristics, silica dioxide additions can strengthen the usability and mechanical features of composite thermoplastics and polymers. Furthermore, introducing silica dioxide as a filler in various attributes can help to maintain the smooth flow of sufficient powders, reduce caking, and manage viscoelasticity. Despite its advantages, 3D printing generates a significant amount of waste due to limited prints or destroyed support structures. ABS is an ideal material to use because it is a thermoplastic and amorphous polymer with outstanding thermal properties that is also applicable with the FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) technique. The findings showed that increasing the silica dioxide content reduces the tensile strength to 22.4 MPa at 10 wt%. Toughness, ductility, and yield stress values of ABS/silica dioxide composites at 15 wt% increased, indicating that the composite material reinforced by the silica dioxide particles improved material characteristics. It is essential to consider the impact of recycling in polymer reinforcement with fillers. Furthermore, the improved mechanical qualities of the composite material encourages successful ABS recycling from 3D printing, as well as the possibility of reusing it in a similar application.

Impact of Micro Silica Filler Particle Size on Mechanical Properties of Polymeric Based Composite Material.

In this study, silica in the form of raw local natural sand was added to high-density-polyethylene (HDPE) in order to develop a composite material in the form of sheets that could have potential applications in thin film industries, such as packaging, or recycling industries, such as in 3D printing. The silica/HDPE composite sheets were developed using a melt extruder followed by using a hot press for compression molding. The impact of two different particle sizes (25 µm and 5 µm) of the silica particles on selected properties such as toughness, elastic modulus, ductility, and composite density were analyzed. A considerable increase in the toughness and elastic modulus was observed from 0 wt% to 20 wt% with a 25 µm filler size. However, a general decreasing trend was observed in the material's toughness and elastic modulus with decreasing particle size. A similar trend was observed for the ductility and the tensile strength of the sheets prepared from both filler particle sizes. In terms of the composite density, as the filler was increased from 20 wt% to 50 wt%, an increase in the composite densities was noticed for both particle sizes. Additionally, the sheets developed with 25 µm particle size had a slightly higher density than the 5 µm particle size, which is expected as the size can account for the higher weight. Results from this work aim to analyze the use of local sand as a filler material that can contribute towards maximizing the potential of such composite materials developed in extrusion industries.

Isolation and Characterization of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Date Palm Waste.

This study presents the isolation, characterization, and kinetic analyses of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from date palm waste in the United Arab Emirates. After bleaching date palm stem waste with acidified NaClO2 and delignification via NaOH treatments, cellulose was extracted. Mineral acid hydrolysis (62 wt % H2SO4) was performed at 45 °C for 45 min to produce crystalline nanocellulose. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and chemical composition analysis confirmed the removal of noncellulosic constituents. The crystallinity index increased gradually with chemical treatments, according to the obtained X-ray diffraction (XRD) results. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry results revealed that the CNC has high thermal stability. The Coats-Redfern method was used to determine the kinetic parameters. The kinetic analysis confirmed that CNC has more activation energy than cellulose and thus confirms its compact and resistive crystalline structure. This has been attributable to the stronger hydrogen bonding in CNC crystalline domains than that in cellulose crystalline domains. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that lignin and hemicellulose were eliminated after chemical pretreatments, and CNC with a rodlike shape was obtained after hydrolysis. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy confirmed the nanoscale of crystalline cellulose. ζ potential analysis indicated that the CNC afforded a stable suspension (-29.27 mV), which is less prone to flocculation. Kinetic analyses of cellulose and cellulose nanocrystals isolated from date palm waste are useful for making composites and designing selective pyrolysis reactors.

A New Green Composite Based on Plasticized Polylactic Acid Mixed with Date Palm Waste for Single-Use Plastics Applications.

Petroleum-based plastic is widely used in almost all fields. However, it causes serious threats to the environment owing to its non-biodegradable properties, which necessitates finding biodegradable alternatives. Here, date palm rachis (DPR) waste was used as a filler (30, 40, and 50 wt%) to form a biodegradable composite with polylactic acid (PLA) and achieve cost-performance balance. DPR-PLA composites were prepared using a melt-mixing extruder at 180 °C by varying mixing time, DPR composition, and plasticizer type and composition. The biodegradable testing specimens were prepared by compression molding and analyzed using physical, thermal, and mechanical characterizations. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated a uniform dispersion of DPR (90 µm) in the PLA matrix. The esterification reaction resulting from this interaction between DPR and PLA was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The 30 wt% DPR-PLA composite was considered the optimal composite with the lowest melt flow index (16 g/10 min). This work confirmed the superior effect of addition of 10 wt% of triethyl citrate (TEC) compared with polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) by the improvement in the elongation at break of the optimal composite from 2.10% to 4.20%. Moreover, the addition of 10 wt% of PBAT to the optimal composite resulted in a lower tensile strength (21.80 MPa) than that of the composite with 10 wt% of TEC (33.20 MPa). These results show the potential of using the proposed composite as an alternative material for single-use plastics such as cutlery.

Biomimetic PLGA/Strontium-Zinc Nano Hydroxyapatite Composite Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration.

Synthetic bone graft substitutes have attracted increasing attention in tissue engineering. This study aimed to fabricate a novel, bioactive, porous scaffold that can be used as a bone substitute. Strontium and zinc doped nano-hydroxyapatite (Sr/Zn n-HAp) were synthesized by a water-based sol-gel technique. Sr/Zn n-HAp and poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) were used to fabricate composite scaffolds by supercritical carbon dioxide technique. FTIR, XRD, TEM, SEM, and TGA were used to characterize Sr/Zn n-HAp and the composite scaffolds. The synthesized scaffolds were adequately porous with an average pore size range between 189 to 406 µm. The scaffolds demonstrated bioactive behavior by forming crystals when immersed in the simulated body fluid. The scaffolds after immersing in Tris/HCl buffer increased the pH value of the medium, establishing their favorable biodegradable behavior. ICP-MS study for the scaffolds detected the presence of Sr, Ca, and Zn ions in the SBF within the first week, which would augment osseointegration if implanted in the body. nHAp and their composites (PLGA-nHAp) showed ultimate compressive strength ranging between 0.4-19.8 MPa. A 2.5% Sr/Zn substituted nHAp-PLGA composite showed a compressive behavior resembling that of cancellous bone indicating it as a good candidate for cancellous bone substitute.

Embracing Additive Manufacturing Technology through Fused Filament Fabrication for Antimicrobial with Enhanced Formulated Materials.

Antimicrobial materials produced by 3D Printing technology are very beneficial, especially for biomedical applications. Antimicrobial surfaces specifically with enhanced antibacterial property have been prepared using several quaternary salt-based agents, such as quaternary ammonium salts and metallic nanoparticles (NPs), such as copper and zinc, which are incorporated into a polymeric matrix mainly through copolymerization grafting and ionic exchange. This review compared different materials for their effectiveness in providing antimicrobial properties on surfaces. This study will help researchers choose the most suitable method of developing antimicrobial surfaces with the highest efficiency, which can be applied to develop products compatible with 3D Printing Technology.

Comprehensive Characterization of Polymeric Composites Reinforced with Silica Microparticles Using Leftover Materials of Fused Filament Fabrication 3D Printing.

Silica exhibits properties such that its addition into polymeric materials can result in an enhanced overall quality and improved characteristics and as a result silica has been widely used as a filler material for improving the rheological properties of polymeric materials. The usage of polymers in three-dimensional printing technology has grown exponentially, which has increased the amount of waste produced during this process. Several polymers, such as polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polylactic acid (PLA), and nylon, are applied in this emerging technology. In this study, the effect of the addition of silica as a filler on the mechanical, thermal, and bulk density properties of the composites prepared from the aforementioned polymeric waste was studied. In addition, the morphology of the composite materials was characterized via scanning electron microscopy. The composite samples were prepared with various silica concentrations using a twin extruder followed by hot compression. Generally, the addition of silica increased the tensile strength of the polymers. For instance, the tensile strength of PVA with 5 wt% filler increased by 76 MPa, whereas those of PP and PLA with 10 wt% filler increased by 7.15 and 121.03 MPa, respectively. The crystallinity of the prepared composite samples ranged from 14% to 35%, which is expected in a composite system. Morphological analysis revealed the random dispersion of silica particles and agglomerate formation at high silica concentrations. The bulk density of the samples decreased with increased amount of filler addition. The addition of silica influenced the changes in the characteristics of the polymeric materials. Furthermore, the properties presented in this study can be used to further study the engineering design, transportation, and production processes, promoting the recycling and reuse of such waste in the same technology with the desired properties.

3D Printing PLA Waste to Produce Ceramic Based Particulate Reinforced Composite Using Abundant Silica-Sand: Mechanical Properties Characterization.

Due to the significant properties of silica, thermostatics can be enhanced using silica-additives to maximize the quality of polymer compounds and transform plastics into tailored properties. The silica additives can enhance the handling and quality performance of composites and thermoplastic polymers due to their diverse potential. Besides, using silica as an additive in different characteristics can allow granulates and powders to flow easily, minimize caking, and control rheology. On the other hand, the eruption of 3D printing technology has led to a massive new waste source of plastics, especially the polylactic acid (PLA) that is associated with the fused deposition modeling (FDM) process. In this paper, the impact on the mechanical properties when silica is mixed with waste PLA from 3D printing was studied. The PLA/silica mixtures were prepared using different blends through twin extruders and a Universal Testing Machine was used for the mechanical characterization. The result indicated that increasing silica composition resulted in the increase of the tensile strength to 121.03 MPa at 10 wt%. Similar trends were also observed for the toughness, ductility, and the yield stress values of the PLA/silica blends at 10 wt%, which corresponds to the increased mechanical property of the composite material reinforced by the silica particles. Improvement in the mechanical properties of the developed composite material promotes the effective recycling of PLA from applications such as 3D printing and the potential of reusing it in the same application.

Implementing FDM 3D Printing Strategies Using Natural Fibers to Produce Biomass Composite.

Current environmental concerns have led to a search of more environmentally friendly manufacturing methods; thus, natural fibers have gained attention in the 3D printing industry to be used as bio-filters along with thermoplastics. The utilization of natural fibers is very convenient as they are easily available, cost-effective, eco-friendly, and biodegradable. Using natural fibers rather than synthetic fibers in the production of the 3D printing filaments will reduce gas emissions associated with the production of the synthetic fibers that would add to the current pollution problem. As a matter of fact, natural fibers have a reinforcing effect on plastics. This review analyzes how the properties of the different polymers vary when natural fibers processed to produce filaments for 3D Printing are added. The results of using natural fibers for 3D Printing are presented in this study and appeared to be satisfactory, while a few studies have reported some issues.

Physicochemical properties of antifungal drug-cyclodextrin complexes prepared by supercritical carbon dioxide and by conventional techniques.

Antifungal drugs are the most common systemic drugs used for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis, which is the first symptom of HIV infection. However, the efficacy and bioavailability of these drugs have been limited by their poor aqueous solubility and dissolution rate. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different preparation methods (i.e. kneading, coevaporation, sealed-heating, and a solid inclusion technique using supercritical carbon dioxide carrier (SC CO(2)-inclusion)) for obtaining solid inclusion complexes between beta-cyclodextrin and three antifungal drugs (itraconazole, econazole, and fluconazole). The physicochemical properties of the different products were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD). For the complexes prepared by the SC CO(2)-inclusion method, the effects of temperature and pressure have also been investigated. Results suggested the possibility of complex formation between beta-cyclodextrin and the three antifungal agents, and indicated that inclusion formation was influenced by the preparation technique. SC CO(2)-inclusion method proved to be an effective technique for preparing solid-state inclusion complexes between beta-cyclodextrin and antifungal drugs, avoiding the use of organic solvents. Moreover, temperature of the SC CO(2) played a major role in promoting drug-carrier interactions, whereas pressure had limited effects.

Isolation and characterization of cellulose and α-cellulose from date palm biomass waste.

Towards the utilization of different parts of date palm biomass waste, low-concentration acid-alkali treatment was used to isolate the contained cellulose and α-cellulose. The cellulose yields achieved from the rachis, leaflet, and fiber parts of the biomass were 74.70%, 71.50%, and 73.82%, respectively, while the corresponding α-cellulose yields were 78.63%, 75.64%, and 70.40%, respectively. The cellulose samples were bleached and characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD results revealed high crystallinity of both the cellulose and α-cellulose samples, while the TGA thermograms indicated that the alkali treatment completely removed lignin and hemicelluloses from the rachis. The results of this study demonstrate the promise of using date palm biomass waste as raw material to produce cellulose and α-cellulose.

Evaluation of supercritical fluid technology as preparative technique of benzocaine-cyclodextrin complexes--comparison with conventional methods.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the preparation method on the physico-chemical properties of complexes prepared between beta-cyclodextrin (beta-Cyd) and benzocaine (BZC). In particular, the effectiveness of a new technique based on supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO(2)) for preparing solid drug-cyclodextrin complexes was investigated and compared to other more conventional methods such as kneading (KN), co-evaporation (COE), co-grinding (GR) and sealed-heating (S.H.). Effects of temperature, pressure and exposure time on the properties of complexes prepared by SC CO(2) technology were also studied. The different systems were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD) and dissolution test according to the dispersed amount method. The co-grinding (GR) method resulted in amorphous products while other methods led to crystalline or partially amorphous products depending on both the method and its experimental conditions. SC CO(2) method revealed to be an effective technique for preparing solid systems between beta-cyclodextrin and benzocaine, avoiding the use of organic solvents (and problems of their complete removal) and allowing an easy scale-up of the process. As for the influence of the experimental conditions in promoting the solid-state drug-carrier interaction when using the SC CO(2) method, temperature seemed to play the major role, whereas pressure and exposure times had more limited effects. Dissolution tests confirmed a limited but favourable effect in increasing the exposure time, while indicated a possible interaction effect between temperature and pressure in influencing the dissolution performance of the final product. The best product obtained by the SC CO(2) method showed dissolution properties similar to those of the co-ground product and only slightly lower than the system obtained by sealed-heating, which was the most effective technique.