Key Points
- Jiangsu China Tobacco disclosed a patent using 3D printing to manufacture layered nicotine oral products.
- The formulation features a three-layer spherical structure enabling graded nicotine release.
- The system aims to balance rapid satisfaction and sustained nicotine delivery while limiting excessive intake.
- The technology highlights how additive manufacturing may support more precise control of nicotine delivery profiles in oral nicotine products.
2Firsts，March09，2026
According to publicly available information on the patent database of China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), China Tobacco Jiangsu Industrial Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), has published a patent titled “Nicotine Graded-Release Oral Formulation Based on 3D Printing Technology and Its Preparation Method.”
The patent application (No. 202511386486.1) was filed on September 26, 2025 and published on January 6, 2026 under publication number CN121264688A.
The invention proposes an oral nicotine formulation manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques to precisely control nicotine release kinetics.
Three-Layer Structural Design
The patent describes a spherical oral dosage form composed of three concentric layers produced through integrated 3D printing.
From inside to outside, the structure includes:
1. Long-acting core layer
2. Sustained-release intermediate layer
3. Rapid-release outer layer
Each layer contains porous carrier materials loaded with nicotine or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, while the pore sizes increase from the core to the outer layer.
This gradient structure is designed to regulate nicotine diffusion and dissolution in the oral environment.
Controlled Multi-Stage Nicotine Release
The layered structure is intended to produce a three-phase release profile:
- The outer layer rapidly dissolves, releasing nicotine within minutes to provide quick craving relief.
- The intermediate layer releases nicotine gradually to maintain plasma levels.
- The core layer dissolves slowly, providing longer-term nicotine delivery and reducing withdrawal symptoms.
The patent describes this mechanism as a “rapid onset – sustained maintenance – long-term tail release” model for nicotine delivery.
3D Printing Enables Precision Manufacturing
The formulation is produced using a specialized 3D printing process in which each layer is printed using materials with different viscosities and compositions.
For example:
- Rapid-release layer viscosity: 800–1000 mPa·s
- Sustained-release layer viscosity: 1500–1800 mPa·s
- Long-acting core layer viscosity: 2000–2200 mPa·s
Temperature-controlled printing and controlled pore sizes further regulate nicotine release behavior.
The process allows manufacturers to adjust release kinetics by modifying structural parameters such as pore size, layer thickness and material composition.
Industry Implications
Nicotine oral products—including nicotine pouches and dissolvable formats—have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the global next-generation nicotine market.
The patent suggests that Chinese tobacco research institutes are exploring precision-engineered oral nicotine delivery systems, potentially combining pharmaceutical formulation science with additive manufacturing.
If commercialized, such technologies could enable:
- customized nicotine delivery profiles
- more controlled nicotine dosing
- improved user experience through staged satisfaction
- reduced risk of excessive nicotine intake
More broadly, the use of 3D printing in nicotine products could introduce a new manufacturing paradigm, allowing complex internal structures that are difficult to achieve through traditional compression or coating methods.
Cover Image source：ChatGPT
More updates on the global next-generation nicotine industry are available at 2Firsts.
