Next-Generation Nasal Drug Delivery Exploiting non-Newtonian Fluids and Smart Thermoresponsive Materials

Nasal sprays are of great importance to the pharmaceutical field, particularly with the possibility of self-vaccination via this route. This project will explore rheological effects in nasal sprays, including the exploitation of “smart” materials which respond to temperature, with the aim of developing next-generation dosage forms.

PhD student: Hessam Rasooli Nia
Cohort: 4
Lead supervisor: Prof Darragh Murnane and Dr Michael Cook
Institution: University of Hertfordshire

Aerosolised lung surfactant-based formulation stabilisation to optimise inhalable controlled drug delivery

This PhD project will develop novel inhalable formulations for lung drug delivery based on the properties of lung surfactant: a natural protective film coating the alveolar epithelium synthesized and recycled in form of self-assembled proteo-liposomes. The student will generate lipid nanoparticles with enhanced stability employing ionic fluids to determine which properties and components favour alveolar epithelium delivery and uptake and benchmark these formulations against commercial pharmacological anticancer drugs.

PhD student: Melih Engur
Cohort: 4
Lead supervisor: Dr Jorge Bernardino de la Serna
Institution: Imperial College London

Environmentally friendly plasma coated inhaler cannisters

Drug delivery from metered dose inhalers is reduced if the drug adheres to or reacts with the aluminium inhaler cannister. Cannisters can be coated with PTFE, but plasma coated cannisters are more environmentally friendly. This project will characterise plasma coated cannisters, their interactions with drugs, and the stability and delivery of drugs.

PhD student: Mahmoud Ahmed
Cohort: 3
Lead supervisor: Dr Matthew Jones
Institution: University of Bath

This project is an industry funded studentship supported by H&T Presspart.

Aerosol Dynamics on Inhalation at High Relative Humidity

Aerosols are used to deliver drugs to the lungs to treat asthma and systemic diseases. The microphysical processes that transform the drug formulation on inhalation to the high humidity of the lungs (e.g. water condensation, dissolution) will be studied using single particle techniques with the aim of improving clinical efficacy.

This studentship is sponsored in partnership with Chiesi

PhD student: Lance Jiang
Cohort: 2
Lead supervisor: Prof Jonathan Reid
Institution: University of Bristol

This project is an industry funded studentship supported by Chiesi.

Microphysiological models for the assessment of pulmonary concentration of inhaled aerosols

There are significant gaps in our understanding of the links between aerosol deposition sites, binding to lung tissue and the time course of local drug concentrations during inhaled therapy. This project will combine emerging microfluidic, lung-on-a-chip technologies with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry bioanalysis to explore the ‘holy grail’ of in-lung pharmacokinetics.

PhD student: Caterina Fantuzzi
Cohort: 2
Lead supervisor: Prof Darragh Murnane
Institution: University of Hertfordshire

Particle engineering approaches to control the interaction of medicinal aerosols with the lung environment following inhalation 

This article focuses on the delivery of solid drug particles by dry powder inhalers and reviews some of the particle properties that may underpin aerosol dynamics in the humidity of the respiratory system. Furthermore, in response, a novel way to produce monodisperse model particles with distinct characteristics and properties using microfluidic crystallisation techniques is presented. 

PhD student: Toria Legh-Land
Cohort: 1
Supervisors: Prof Darragh Murnane (Hertfordshire) and Prof Jonathan Reid (Bristol)
Institution: University of Hertfordshire

This project is an industry funded studentship supported by Chiesi.

Inhalable nanomedicine for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis 

The rapid spread of multi drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a major threat to global public health. According to WHO ~1.8 million people die every year of TB, with an estimated 9.8 million new infections per year, which is exacerbated due to the number of patients infected with HIV/AIDs. Treatment of TB is lengthy, with the development of drug resistant organisms due to incomplete or inappropriate treatment. We propose that many of the shortfalls of treatment of multidrug-resistant TB could be overcome by reducing the high toxicity and poor efficacy of injectable small molecule antibiotics drugs.  The aim of the PhD is to develop an aerosolised, inhalable nanomedicine that delivers first line anti-tuberculous drugs.

PhD student: Khaled Alzahabi
Cohort: 1
Supervisors: Prof Terry Tetley (Imperial) and Dr Alexandra Porter (Imperial)
Institution: Imperial College London