PhD Research Project: Novel paediatric formulations based on emulsion microstructures for the devel

The development of technological approaches for the encapsulation and delivery of functional species is an area of major research activity with relevance to a wide range of applications (pharmaceutical, food). Although the majority of current research efforts focuses on the encapsulation and delivery/release of a sole active, there is increasing interest in designing structures that enable the co-encapsulation and co-delivery of two or more functional molecules.

The pharmaceutical industry has been at the forefront of research activity in this area for the development of fixed-dose combination (FDC) medicines, where the co-delivery of multiple active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is required.2 Although there is growing evidence that this can be realised for solid dosage forms, co-delivery from liquid formulations, which offer dosage flexibility and address dosage form needs of specific patient populations, is limited.1,2 This is particularly relevant to the paediatric population requiring FDC drug therapies, where in many cases there is no acceptable age-appropriate medicine; e.g. despite the approval of a number of FDC (tuberculosis) products in 2011, none of these alone was deemed by the WHO as suitable for children.

Emulsions are attractive microstructures for the encapsulation/delivery of functional molecules from a liquid formulation. More complex emulsion/colloidal architectures, such as duplex emulsions or liposomes, have been put forward as potential candidates for the co-encapsulation/co-delivery of incompatible actives from liquid systems.3 However, such structures are associated with major stability and co-delivery performance issues and in some cases their large-scale manufacturing would require a significant level of interference to current industrial infrastructure.3 It is therefore clear that in order for the impact of any co-delivery system to be effectively translated into an application, the designed microstructural approach has to be industrially relevant and thus easily manufactured via existing processing routes with no or minimal adjustments to current production pathways.

This multidisciplinary project brings together leading academics from the Schools of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy at the University of Birmingham with the overarching aim to design and implement a novel structuring strategy that enables the co-encapsulation and independent co-delivery of two APIs. In addition to being dose-appropriate (liquid), the proposed co-delivery approach is to be realised within a simple emulsion microstructure and thus is envisaged to be a much less challenging technology in terms of industrial applicability.

Excellent students with a strong background in formulation science and a commitment to pharmaceutical research are invited to apply. Applicants should have a chemical engineering, chemistry, pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences, bioengineering, biosciences or biotechnology background and be interested in interdisciplinary research. They should have or realistically expect to obtain an Undergraduate Honours degree with a minimum classification of a 1st or equivalent and an English Language qualification for international students.

For informal enquiries about the project or if you wish to apply, please contact Dr Fotis Spyropoulos with your CV by email: F.Spyropoulos@bham.ac.uk

Funding Notes

This project is offered as part of the BBSRC-funded Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP), along with the Universities of Warwick and Leicester. This scheme involves a first year comprising training courses, two miniprojects and a professional internship. The PhD project runs from years 2-4. Funding is available for UK and EU students; similar projects may be available for international students with their own funding.
More details are available at: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/
Closing date 30 June 2017
 

References

1. Čejková, J.; Štěpánek, F. Curr. Pharm. Des. 2013, 19(35), 6298-6314.
2. Li, N.; Zhao, L.; Qi, L.; Li, Z.; Luan, Y. Prog. Polym. Sci. 2016, 58, 1-26.
3. Chong, D. T.; Liu, X. S.; Ma, H. J.; Huang, G. Y.; Han, Y. L.; Cui, X. Y.; Yan, J. J.; Xu, F. Microfluid. Nanofluidics. 2015, 19(5), 1071-1090.