PHARMACEUTICS RESEARCH AREAS
School of Pharmacy
PHARMACEUTICS SYMMETRY/SYNERGY
Pre-formulation/Formulation
Quality Control
Drug Delivery
FOUR KEY FOCUS AREAS
• Physico-chemical aspects of APIs and excipients for improved preformulation 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.
• 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
PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Melting point
Does the thermal behavior (melting point) of an API change with
respect to supramolecular modification?
Stability
Can
physical
and
chemical
stability
be
enhanced
upon
manipulation of an API?
Solubility
Can the solubility of an API be altered by modification?
Dissolution
Are dissolution rates improved by modifying compounds in
comparison to the original API?
Bioavailability
Can the bioavailability of an API be improved?
ANALYTICAL METHODS
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HSM
DSC
TG
Single X-ray analysis
PXRD
UV
TLC
HPLC
NMR
Microanalysis
FTIR & FTNIR
LC-MS
POST - FORMULATION
Physical & chemical characteristics & Quality control – solid dosage forms
• Particle size & shape analysis – microscopy, Coulter Counter
• Flowability
• Pycnometry
• Durability
• Friability
• Disintegration
• Dissolution
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.
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.
RESEARCHERS
• H Samsodien - Supramolecular synthesis
& pre-formulation
• R A Bapoo - Solid dosage forms
• N Ebrahim - Transdermal drug delivery
• G Kilian – Nanoparticulate optimisation