Dr Spomenka Simovic
Contact Details
Tel: +61 8 8302 3724
Fax: +61 8 8302 3683
Email: spomenka.simovic@unisa.edu.au
Position
Research Fellow
Qualifications
BSc MSc Belgrade, Yugoslavia PhD UniSA
Background
Spomenka Simovic obtained her Bachelors Degree in Pharmaceutical Science
from the School of Pharmacy, Belgrade followed by Honours in Pharmaceutical
Technology & Cosmetics. Her PhD studies at the Ian Wark Research Institute,
UniSA involved application of colloid science and nanotechnology principles
to the therapeutic drug delivery systems. After completing PhD studies, she
continued postdoctoral research on nanostructural drug delivery systems at
The Wark.
Spomenka is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Bio-Polymer Interfaces
Sector of The Wark and is associate supervisor to PhD and Honours students.
Research Interests
Spomenka’s research is focussed on nano-structured drug delivery systems
with several key aspects: (i) application of interfacial science to resolve
poor oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs (ii) nanoparticle
stabilized emulsions in trans/dermal drug delivery (iii) advanced methods
for formation of nanoparticle stabilised emulsion and microcapsules (iv)
controlled delivery of colloid species from porous matrix systems. She is
working on several research projects, including:
• Hybrid-lipid capsules for improved oral bioavailability of poorly soluble
drugs
• Porous materials for drug delivery with emphasis on anticancer
therapeutics
• Dermal delivery from nanoparticle stabilized emulsions
Supervisor - Available Postgraduate/Honours Projects
Nanoparticle coatings for improved pharmaceutical delivery (H)
Research Projects
Ian Wark Research Institute & Sansom Institute, University of South
Australia and University of Otago, ARC Discovery Grant (DP0558920),
“Physico-chemical and biopharmaceutical investigations of novel drug
delivery systems for oral administration of poorly soluble drugs, 2005-2008,
project supervisors: Prof. Clive Prestidge, Prof. Allan Evans and Prof.
Thomas Rades
Bioinnovation South Australia (SA Govt), Itek Ltd, Ian Wark Research
Institute, University of South Australia, Development Grant Nanoparticle
Encapsulation for New and Improved Cosmeceuticals, Aug 2005 – Dec 2006,
Chief investigators: Clive Prestidge and Spomenka Simovic
Bioinnovation South Australia (SA Govt), Itek Ltd, Ian Wark Research
Institute, University of South Australia, “Nanoparticle Oral Drug Delivery
Technology”, June 2006 - June 2007, Chief investigators: Clive Prestidge and
Spomenka Simovic
Significant Publications
Articles in Peer Reviewed Journals
1. N. Ghouchi Eskandar, S. Simovic, C.A. Prestidge: “Nanoparticle Coated
Emulsions as Novel Dermal Delivery Vehicles”, submitted to Current Drug
Delivery
2. N. Ghouchi Eskandar, S. Simovic, C. A. Prestidge: “Nanoparticle coated
submicron emulsions: Sustained in-vitro release and improved targeted dermal
delivery of all-trans retinol”, Pharmaceutical Research, in press
3. N. Ghouchi Eskandar, S. Simovic, Clive A. Prestidge: “Chemical stability
and phase distribution of all-trans-retinol in nanoparticle coated
emulsion”s, submitted to International Journal of Pharmaceutics
4. N. Ghouchi Eskandar, S. Simovic, Clive A. Prestidge: “Epidermal targeting
of a lipophilic molecule using nanoparticle coated submicron oil-in-water
emulsions”, submitted to Journal of Pharmaceutical Science
5. S. Simovic, P.Heard, H. Hui, Y. Song, F. Peddie, A. K. Davey, A. Lewis,
T. Rades C. A. Prestidge:” Dry hybrid lipid-silica microcapsules engineered
from submicron lipid droplets and nanoparticles”, submitted to Molecular
Pharmaceutics
6. A. Tan, S. Simovic, A. K. Davey, T. Rades, C. A. Prestidge (2009):
“Silica-lipid hybrid (SLH) microcapsules: a novel oral delivery system for
poorly soluble drugs”,Journal of Controlled Release, 134, 62-70,
7. S. Simovic and C. A. Prestidge (2008): “Colloidosomes from the controlled
interaction of submicron triglyceride droplets and hydrophilic silica
nanoparticles, Langmuir (2008) 24(14), 7132-7137.
8. N. Ghouchi Eskandar, S. Simovic, C. A. Prestidge (2007): “Synergistic
effect of silica nanoparticles and charged surfactants in the formation and
stability of submicron oil-in-water emulsions”. Physical Chemistry Chemical
Physics 9(48), 6426-6434.
9. S. Simovic and C. A. Prestidge (2007): Nanoparticle Layers Controlling
Drug Release from Emulsions. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and
Biopharmaceutics, 67(1), 39-47.
10. C.A. Prestidge and S. Simovic (2006): “Nanoparticle encapsulation of
emulsion droplets”. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 324(1) 92-100.
11.S.Simovic and C. A. Prestidge (2005): “Nanoparticles at the
Polydimethylsiloxane Droplet/Water Interface”. Australian Journal of
Chemistry 58(9), 664-666.
12. C. A Prestidge, T. Barnes, S. Simovic (2004): “Polymer and particle
adsorption at the PDMS droplet-water interface”. Advances in Colloid and
Interface Science, 108-109, 105-118.
13. S. Simovic and C. A Prestidge (2004): “Nanoparticles of Varying
Hydrophobicity at the Emulsion Droplet-Water Interface: Adsorption and
Coalescence Stability”. Langmuir, 20(19) 8357-8365.
14. S. Simovic and C. A Prestidge (2003): “Adsorption of Hydrophobic Silica
Nanoparticles at the PDMS Droplet-Water Interface”. Langmuir, 19(20)
8364-8370.
15. S. Simovic and Clive A Prestidge (2003): “Hydrophilic Silica
Nanoparticles at the PDMS Droplet-Water Interface”. Langmuir, 19(9)
3785-3792.
Patents
1.C. A. Prestidge, S. Simovic: “Dried formulations of nanoparticle-coated
capsules”. PCT Int. Appl. (2006) Currently a region / national phase
application in Australia, Japan, Canada, USA, Europe
2. C. A. Prestidge, S. Simovic, N. Ghouchi Eskandar: “Drug release from
nanoparticle coated capsules” PCT Int. Appl. #PCT/AU2007/000602
3. C. A. Prestidge, S. Simovic, N. Ghouchi Eskandar: “Nanoparticle coated
capsule formulation for dermal drug delivery” PCT/AU2008000555
4. C. A. Prestidge, S. Simovic, A. Tan: “Nanoparticle coated capsule
formulation for treatment of inflammation” provisional filed in US 2008.