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Functional nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery and release

Research Area: Chemistry, colloid and interface science, materials science and nanotechnology, pharmaceutical science, pharmacokinetics

Supervisors: Prof Thomas Nann and Dr May Song (School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences)

Description: Specific functional materials/carriers for controlled drug delivery and release are highly demanded. During recent years, much progress has been made on drug delivery systems and this field has became a research focus in pharmaceutics and related sciences.

We aim to synthesise and evaluate functional inorganic nanoparticles as carriers for anti-cancer drugs, which will be released 'on-demand'. Our goal includes the formulation of an advanced drug delivery system that is expected to decrease drug side effects, enhance efficacy and correspond with patients' compliance. Nanoscale inorganic particles are intended to deliver drugs to the specific site, where an external environmental stimulus causes the drug to be released at a desirable time and an accurately controllable amount. Multi-disciplinary combinatorial methods will be applied to prepare this nanocapsulated bioactive agent delivery system. [1] [2]

Approach
Our approach involves three major steps:
1) Synthesis of the functional nanoparticles
Outcome: a functional material/carrier for step 2;
2) Optimisation of the drug formulation and release-triggered device
Outcome: a novel drug delivery system for step 3;
3) Evaluation this drug delivery system in-vitro & in-vivo;
Outcome: an advanced drug dosage form surpassing conventional preparations.

The following methods will be used:
- Wet-chemical synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles.
- Synthesis of nanocapsules and optimise drug formulation.
- Characterisation of all preparations by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and other relevant analytical methods.
- Set-up of models for testing triggered drug release.
- Investigation of the In-vitro properties of the drug delivery system, including drug release profile, entrapment efficiency, drug loading lever, stability, etc.
- Investigation of pharmacokinetics and evaluation of pharmacodynamics on an animal model.

This is a highly interdisciplinary project in which several collaborators are involved and there may be the opportunity of conducting some experimental work at overseas laboratories. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in chemistry and/or pharmacy.

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be addressed to Thomas Nann or May Song.

References
[1] Shailesh Jain, Karunakar Shukla, Vishal Jain, Swarnlata Saraf, Shailendra Saraf. Nanoparticles: Emerging carriers for delivery of bioactive agents. Pharma Times. 39(1), 30-35,(2007).
[2] Katz, E. & Willner, I. Integrated Nanoparticle-Biomolecule Hybrid Systems: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 43, 6042-6108 (2004).

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