Pharmaceutics Research Areas

School of Pharmacy

PHARMACEUTICS RESEARCH AREAS

PHARMACEUTICS SYMMETRY/SYNERGY

Pre-formulation/Formulation

Quality Control Drug Delivery

FOUR KEY FOCUS AREAS• Physico-chemical aspects of APIs and excipients for improved pre-formulation

and formulation studies. Emphasis on polymorphism, cyclodextrin inclusion and co-crystallization of pharmaceutical ingredients

• Drug delivery systems of poorly soluble drugs with emphasis on solid dosage forms and quality control

• Transdermal permeation studies with emphasis on traditional medicinal compounds and the development of percutaneous absorption models for medicinal plants. Focus is placed on liposomal carrier systems and permeation enhancers.

• Development and optimisation of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems using statistical experimental design with emphasis on improving physical and chemical stability.

• Supramolecular chemistry study of non-covalent interactions between molecules, ions or radicals.

• Hydrogen bonding, π···π, C-H···π, van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions.

• Crystalline materials obtain fundamental physical properties from molecular arrangement within the solid

• Altering the placement and/or interactions between these molecules directly impacts its physico-chemical properties

• Solid-state chemists incorporate a variety of different strategies when attempting to modify the chemical and physical solid-state properties of APIs, namely, the formation of salts, polymorphs, hydrates, solvates, complexes and co-crystals

PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Melting point Does the thermal behavior (melting point) of an API change with

respect to supramolecular modification?

Stability Can physical and chemical stability be enhanced upon

manipulation of an API?

Solubility Can the solubility of an API be altered by modification?

Dissolution Are dissolution rates improved by modifying compounds in

comparison to the original API?

Bioavailability Can the bioavailability of an API be improved?

ANALYTICAL METHODS

• HSM• DSC • TG• Single X-ray analysis• PXRD• UV• TLC• HPLC• NMR• Microanalysis• FTIR & FTNIR• LC-MS

POST - FORMULATION

Physical & chemical characteristics & Quality control – solid dosage forms

• Particle size & shape analysis – microscopy, Coulter Counter

• Flowability

• Pycnometry

• Durability

• Friability

• Disintegration

• Dissolution

TRANSDERMAL STUDIES• Percutaneous absorption models

• Liposomal carrier systems & permeation enhancers.• Human skin Preparation- Removal of Hypodermal and Epidermal layers.

• Franz Diffusional - used for drug permeation through human skin & other membranes.

NANOPARTICULATE DRUG DELIVERY

• Nanoparticle such as liposomes are ideal drug carriers as they accumulate in disease or inflamed tissues.

• Enables targeted delivery to these tissues.

• Stability of nanoparticulate suspensions is problematic:• Use of statistical design such as response surface methodology (RSM) to optimise

formulations for prolonged storage and delivery.

RESEARCHERS

• H Samsodien - Supramolecular synthesis & pre-formulation

• R A Bapoo - Solid dosage forms

• N Ebrahim - Transdermal drug delivery

• G Kilian – Nanoparticulate optimisation