Australian Chapter of the Controlled
Release Society
AUS-CRS Committee Report 2008/9
By Pavla Simerska
Scientific Secretary of AUS-CRS
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COMMITTEE OF THE AUSTRALIAN CHAPTER OF THE CONTROLLED
RELEASE SOCIETY
President:
Prof. Istvan Toth
School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences
The University of Queensland
i.toth@uq.edu.au
Vice-President:
Dr. Ben Boyd
Victorian College of Pharmacy
Monash University
ben.boyd@vcp.monash.edu.au
Scientific Secretary:
Dr. Pavla Simerska
School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences
The University of Queensland
p.simerska@uq.edu.au
Treasurer:
Prof. Clive Prestidge
Ian Wark Research Institute
University of South Australia
clive.prestidge@unisa.edu.au
Secretary:
Assoc. Prof. Allan Coombes
School of Pharmacy
The University of Queensland
a.coombes@pharmacy.uq.edu.au
Members at large:
Dr. Daniela Traini
Faculty of Pharmacy
University of Sydney
danielat@pharm.usyd.edu.au
Dr. Ross Kennedy
School of Biomedical Sciences
Charles Sturt University
rokennedy@csu.edu.au
Dr. Heather Benson
School of Pharmacy
Curtin University of Technology
h.benson@curtin.edu.au
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Australian Chapter of the Controlled Release Society (AUS-CRS) is dedicated to
broadening the awareness, application and appeal of controlled release science and
technology within the academic and industrial community. Another important purpose of
the Chapter is to support young researchers in the field of drug delivery and formulation.
Successful delivery of a high quality annual scientific meetings and workshops provides
the principal means for achieving these aims.
Total number of members of AUS-CRS in 2009: 190
Student members of AUS-CRS in 2009: 55
ACHIEVEMENTS FOR PREVIOUS YEAR (2008/2009)
The major achievements in 2008/2009 were the 2nd annual meeting of the AUS-CRS and
the workshop organized together with NZ-CRS. Our 2nd AUS-CRS Annual Meeting was
held in conjunction with Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA)
Conference on Sunday 7th of December 2008 at the Australian National University in
Canberra. Created in July 2007, AUS-CRS is only a young chapter of the main
international CRS organization, yet the quality of the program was clearly excellent.
Outstanding plenary lectures were given by highly recognized drug delivery scientists. In
collaboration with New Zealand CRS Chapter, AUS-CRS hold joint “Peptide and Protein
Bioactives - Stability and Delivery” Workshops. First one was organized in Brisbane,
Australia on 6 - 7th of October 2008 and then the second one in Dunedin, New Zealand
on 9 - 10th of October. Both were very successful attracting many young students as well
as scientists from academia and industry (70 participants in AUS, 40 participants in NZ).
2nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the AUS-CRS
Pavla Simerska, Scientific Secretary of AUS-CRS
On behalf of the Australian Chapter of the Controlled Release Society (AUS-CRS), I
would like to report you on success of our 2nd AUS-CRS Annual Meeting held in
conjunction with Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA) Conference
on Sunday 7th of December 2008 at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Created in July 2007, AUS-CRS is only a young chapter of the main international CRS
organization, yet the quality of the program was outstanding.
The AUS-CRS 2nd Annual Meeting opening by Professor
Istvan Toth (president of AUS-CRS) was followed by
plenary lecture given by Professor Thomas Rades
(president of NZ-CRS). In addition to nine invited highly
recognized national speakers (Mark von Itzstein, Robert
Capon, Benjamin Thierry, Calum Drummond, Paul
Young, Michael Rathbone, Angus Johnston, Chris Porter,
Michael Roberts), we were also very fortunate to have
imminent international guest Professor Paolo Colombo
(University of Parma, Italy).
Professor Istvan Toth (president of AUS-CRS) opening the
2nd AUS-CRS Annual Meeting. Photo by Pavla Simerska.
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During the Annual General Meeting, past and future AUS-CRS activities were discussed
as well as how to improve and expand the Local Chapter, finances and the strategy for
the next year meeting (separate or in conjunction with APSA). It was also decided that
AUS-CRS committee will remain the same for another year and then elections will be
organized following the model of the main CRS.
This meeting provided opportunities for students and researchers from both academia and
industry to discuss recent developments in the controlled release field. We thank to our
generous sponsors: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University; School of
Pharmacy, The University of Queensland; Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of
Sydney; Queensland University of Technology; School of Pharmacy, Griffith University
for their support which enabled us to organize this conference and to provide four student
prizes for the best posters in controlled release field:
1st prize: The University of Queensland, School of Pharmacy Prize $1,000
contribution toward attending CRS Copenhagen 2009 - Kathy LEE, Monash Institute of
Pharmaceutical Sciences (Gastric processing is a critical determinant of the ability of
lipid-based formulations to enhance the oral bioavailability of a model poorly watersoluble drug)
1st prize: The University of Sydney, Faculty of Pharmacy Prize $1,000 contribution
toward attending CRS Copenhagen 2009 – Angel TAN, Ian Wark Research Institute.
(Silica-lipid hybrid microcapsules for oral delivery of poorly soluble drugs)
Allan
Coombes
(AUS-CRS
secretary) handing in the 1st poster
prizes to Kathy Lee and Angel Tan
(from left).
Photo by Pavla
Simerska.
2nd prize: $300 Queensland University of Technology, Pharmacy Prize - Hemant
KUMAR, The University of Auckland (Oral formulation of lactoferricin, a bioactive
peptide from lactoferrin, a whey protein and its in-vitro release studies)
3rd prize: Griffith University, School of Pharmacy Prize $200 - Thilini
THRIMAWITHANA, School of Pharmacy, University of Auckland (Texture profile
analysis of kappa and iota carrageenan gels)
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Allan Coombes (AUS-CRS secretary)
handing in the 2nd and 3rd poster
prizes to Hemant Kumar and Thilini
Thrimawithana (from left). Photo by
Pavla Simerska.
A report on the conference appears in the CRS Newsletter, 2009, Vol. 26, No.1 and
Current Drug Delivery, 2009, Vol. 6, No. 4.
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New Zealand and Australian CRS Chapters hold joint
“Peptide and Protein Bioactives - Stability and Delivery” Workshop
Hemant Kumar, School of Pharmacy, University of Auckland
Rohit Jain, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago
Over 70 delegates in Brisbane, Australia (6 - 7th October 2008) and over 40 in Dunedin,
New Zealand (9 - 10th October 2008) from academia and industry, participated in the
science-intensive and enjoyable two-day workshop. The workshop offered an excellent
opportunity for students and industry representatives working in the field of protein and
peptides formulation and delivery to enhance cooperation between academia and
industry. Workshop opening by Dr Natalie Medlicott (University of Otago) together with
presidents of both Local Chapters of CRS (Prof. Thomas Rades and Prof. Istvan Toth)
was followed by the introductory presentation by Dr Louise Rosenmayr-Templeton
(Director of Tower Pharma Consulting) about industrial perspectives and recent
approaches for protein formulation. Dr Rosenmayr-Templeton informed the audience
about the market potential of protein and peptide therapeutics and gave an overview on
the bench and scale-up formulation challenges for protein and peptide products. Current
research was addressed by Dr Pavla Simerska (The University of Queensland) about the
different delivery systems and current issues in peptide formulation and delivery.
Different methods for altering the chemical structure of peptides to improve the
bioavailability was given considerable, well received attention.
Workshop speakers. L to R. Dr Natalie Medlicott, Dr Arlene McDowell, Prof. Thomas
Rades, Dr Louise Rosenmayr-Templeton, Dr Pavla Simerska and Prof. Istvan Toth.
Photo by Julie Bergeon.
Prof. Thomas Rades (University of Otago) and Dr Medlicott presented insights into the
stability of protein and peptides in solid state and in solutions respectively. The talks
were very informative both for researchers and industry, covering the major and minor
pathways of protein and peptide degradation and different techniques and instruments
suitable for characterising protein and peptide degradation. Dr Medlicott presented a
second talk emphasising proof of concept and discussed in detail assessment of proteins
in formulation with examples of major stability issues.
The first day’s afternoon session focused on two aspects: first, assessment of bioactivity
of peptides and proteins and second, instrument demonstrations. Dr Arlene McDowell
(University of Otago) presented aspects of the pharmacokinetics of the protein and
peptide formulations and provided the audience with detailed information about
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bioassays, toxicity studies and in vitro and in vivo models. Later in the afternoon a panel
discussion was opened and the audience shared their knowledge, expertise and
experiences with protein and peptide formulations. Immediately after the afternoon tea,
the audience toured laboratories to look at instruments that are primarily employed to
characterise protein formulations in terms of protein and peptide stability e.g. LCMS,
FTIR, HPLC and SDS PAGE.
Anshul Awasthi demonstrates SDS PAGE
electrophoresis to Dunedin workshop attendees
Rinku Singh and Lipika Chatterjee. Photo by
Arlene McDowell.
The session on the second day was opened by Dr
Rosenmayr-Templeton who delivered a very
interesting and meaningful talk about what to
consider when selecting the delivery route,
formulation
approach
and
developing
formulation. She gave an account of different
devices used or in development for the delivery of proteins and peptides, spoke about the
different routes of administration, different barriers for protein therapeutics and
formulation strategies and different delivery systems. Prof. Istvan Toth (The University
of Queensland) presented some very novel approaches to improve vaccine delivery;
bringing to our attention the early days of vaccine development and recent approaches
(such as lipopeptides) and their role as adjuvants. The morning’s last presentation by Dr
Rosenmayr-Templeton presented practical examples of improving delivery of protein
therapeutics. The day wrapped up in the afternoon with the audience assigned into small
groups to discuss and addresses a number of case studies associated with the
characterisation and formulation of proteins and peptides, these studies were approached
with enthusiasm and lead to some very intense discussions.
Participants at the Brisbane
discussing the group case studies.
Pavla Simerska.
workshop
Photo by
The workshop was closed by Drs Medlicott and
Simerska, thanking everybody for their help and
participation and inviting everyone to the
December 2008 meeting of the Australian Local
Chapter of the CRS that will be held with
Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association.
We thank the organisers of the conference Dr Simerska (Australia) and Dr McDowell
(New Zealand) those who helped with the instrument demonstration session as well as
the Co-Sponsors:
School of Pharmacy, University of Otago
Formulation and Delivery of Bioactives Research Theme, University of Otago
School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland
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Faculty of Biological & Chemical Sciences, The University of Queensland
Dr Natalie Medlicott thanks Guest Speaker Dr
Louise Rosenmayr-Templeton for her contribution
to the Workshop. Photo by Arlene McDowell.
A report on the conference appears in the CRS Newsletter, 2009, Vol. 26, No.1.
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PROPOSED ACTIVITIES FOR 2009/10
3rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the AUS-CRS
Due to the success of two previous Annual Meetings of the Australian Chapter of the
CRS organized in conjunction with APSA’s Annual Meetings in 2007 and 2008, the
AUS-CRS committee decided to run their 3rd Annual Meeting again in collaboration with
APSA. Following the discussions, it has been agreed that the 3rd AUS-CRS Meeting will
take place in Hobart, Tasmania on 10th of December 2009. The first AUS-CRS meeting
attracted over a hundred participants as well as the second AUS-CRS meeting and they
were particularly noted for the high quality of the speakers and scientific presentations,
features which we will endeavour to maintain. The committee has in mind a number of
outstanding researchers who will be invited to speak at the Hobart meeting in December
2009. The program is still to be finalized, but will include at least one international
plenary speaker, seven national invited speakers and 4 contributors who will present oral
presentations on Controlled Release and Drug Delivery topics. These topics will attract
scientists from academia and industry, both in the pharmaceutical field and the life
sciences in general. The committee is planning to stage a poster display aimed at
encouraging younger scientists to engage with the CRS and thus ensure the continued
growth and development of the field. We are aiming to award three substantial student
prizes, one of which will enable the winner to attend the annual CRS conference in
Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. in 2010.
Joint workshop with the New Zealand CRS Chapter
The AUS-CRS together with New Zealand CRS Chapter plan to run two 2-days
“Increasing bioavailability using formulations and chemical modifications to improve
solubility and biological and chemical stability” workshops covering formulation and
protein delivery, peptide vaccine development and immunology. This theme is highly
relevant for the pharmaceutical industry as well as to biopharmaceutical start up
companies. It will also attract scientists from academia and industry, both in the
pharmaceutical field and the life sciences in general. This is the 2nd workshop in a series
that the AUS-CRS has presented. The format of this workshop is based on the highly
successful workshop that was led by Prof. Perrie and Prof. Rades at the New York CRS
annual meeting in 2008 and joined Peptide & Protein workshop of AUS-CRS and NZCRS held in Brisbane and Dunedin in 2008. These workshops will include both
theoretical presentations and also demonstration of different analytical techniques and
instruments.
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