Pharmaceutics Research Areas

1. Pharmaceutics Research Areas School of Pharmacy

2. Pharmaceutics Symmetry/Synergy Pre-formulation/Formulation Quality Control Drug Delivery

3. 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.

4. 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

5. Physicochemical properties

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

7. Post - Formulation Physical & chemical characteristics & Quality control – solid dosage forms • Particle size & shape analysis – microscopy, Coulter Counter • Flowability • Pycnometry • Durability • Friability • Disintegration • Dissolution

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Researchers • H Samsodien - Supramolecular synthesis & pre-formulation • R A Bapoo - Solid dosage forms • N Ebrahim - Transdermal drug delivery • G Kilian – Nanoparticulateoptimisation