Formulation and Drug Delivery Research Theme School of

Formulation and Drug Delivery Research Theme School of Pharmacy - The University of Auckland School of Pharmacy, the University of Auckland, New Zealand. The Drug Delivery Systems Research theme focuses on turning bioactive molecules into medicines ready for patient administration. A vast range of medicines are available; however, treatment success in patients hinges on appropriate control over the timing, extent and location of dosing. Innovative delivery strategies for existing drugs are desperately needed; despite the promise of new bioactive molecules the majority cannot be directly given to patients as either they cannot be absorbed into the body, or they cause significant side effects. This research theme aims to improve therapeutic effectiveness of both existing and new medicines through the development and evaluation of various medicine formulations to deliver bioactive molecules, at a specific time, duration and location in the body. The School of Pharmacy has particular expertise in nanotechnology, protein and peptide delivery, gene therapy, targeted delivery, and stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems. These platforms are used to deliver new and existing drugs, in a sustained, targeted or tunable release fashion. As well as working with traditional drug molecules, we also work with protein and peptides in partnership with key research centers, hospitals and industry. This research theme lends itself to investigations and problem solving in a wide range of areas, five representative areas are now described: -The majority of anti-cancer drugs are harmful not only to cancerous cells but also to healthy cells. Anti-cancer drug delivery involves packaging an anti-cancer molecule inside nano-sized carriers which targets the treatment directly to the cancer cells. Through targeted accumulation in tumours and reducing exposure of healthy cells, side effects are minimised while anticancer activity is enhanced. These approaches are applied to improve currently marketed medicines as well as exciting new anti-cancer molecules, including those developed by the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre. -Many medicines need to be taken once or multiple times every day and are then transported from the site of administration to the site of action. Implantable systems have been formulated, loaded with multiple doses of medicine and have the capacity to release drug over weeks to months to localized sites in the body. These technologies are being further extended by investigating stimuli-responsive delivery systems where release rates of doses can be adjusted on demand. Such delivery systems aim to increase treatment efficiency and safety by delivering medicines to where it is needed, at the correct dose and over a period of time hence removing the need for repeated dosing. -Neuropeptide delivery for the treatment of neurological conditions. Targeting the delivery of therapeutic compounds across the blood brain barrier (BBB) presents great challenges for the global scientific community. Our experts have patented advanced technologies enabling the delivery of the neuropeptides across the BBB. The current economic cost of visual impairment in New Zealand is estimated to be around NZ$3 billion. Many causes of visual impairment are treatable with bioactives, although there are difficulties getting these molecules into the eye. Formulations are being developed to carry effective bioactives into the eye to treat disease. -Cosmetic and nutraceutical science. Working with local and international healthcare and cosmetic companies, our expertise is applied to develop both novel carrier systems for skin care science, as well as function foods for the nutraceutical industry Dr Jingyuan Wen is theme leader and a senior lecturer in pharmaceutics. Her research interests are in formulation and delivery for human and veterinary products. Dr Wen’s special research focuses using advanced delivery systems to enhance oral bioavailability for protein and peptide drugs and also enhance the skin penetration for cosmetical products. She has published 170 peer reviewed articles and conference abstracts, 5 international patents and 7 book chapters. She is a reviewer of the Controlled Release Society (CRS) and a committee member of the New Zealand Chapter of CRS. She also services as a consultant for international and national pharmaceutical and cosmetical companies. Contact detail: j. wen@auckland. ac. nz and phone 0064 9 923276 Dr Zimei Wu is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutics. Her expertise includes preformulation, cell culture and pharmacokinetics which underpins her major research activities in the design of drug delivery systems for improving “biocompatibility”, “prevention of post-injection drug precipitation” and particularly ‘tumour-targeted delivery’. She also researches dermal/transdermal delivery in collaboration with local pharmaceutical companies. Dr Wu is an author of 50 peer-reviewed papers and inventor for 11 patents. She is a regular reviewer for 10 pharmaceutical journals and the President of NZ Chapter of Controlled Release Society. Contact detail: z. wu@auckland. ac. nz and phone 0064 9 923709 Dr Raida Al-Kassas is the Head of Pharmaceutics and a Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutics. She obtained her Ph. D from the Queen’s university of Belfast, UK on the design of multiparticulate delivery systems. Raida has extensive research experience focused on the use of multiparticulate systems including microspheres and nanoparticles for administration of drug substances and anti-bacterial agents. She has successfully used nanoparticles for incorporation of bioactive molecules such as DNA, si. RNA, antigens and proteins to be used for immunization and for the treatment of cancer. She is a reviewer and an editorial board for a number of international pharmaceutics journals and serves as a consultant for pharmaceutical companies. Contact detail: r. al-kassas@auckland. ac. nz and phone 0064 9 92383710. Dr Darren Svirskis is a Pharmacist and Lecturer in Pharmaceutics. His research interests are in implantable biomaterials, with both biodegradable and non-biodegradable drug delivery systems formulated with release profiles designed to match clinical requirements. Darren has a special research focus using Conducting Polymer platforms to achieve on-demand, electrically triggered drug release. He currently serves as treasure of the New Zealand Chapter of the Controlled Release Society. . Contact detail: d. svirskis@auckland. ac. nz and phone 0064 9 92381158 Dr Manisha Sharma is a research fellow and professional teaching fellow. She obtained her Ph. D degree in “Biomedical Engineering” in 2010 from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India. Her current research interests are in the development and evaluation of polymeric implantable drug delivery systems including both biodegradable and nonbiodegradable systems to address the current clinical conditions. She is also interested in stimuli responsive delivery systems based on intrinsically conducting polymers. Contact detail: manisha. sharma@auckland. ac. nz and phone 0064 9 92381158