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Development of drug delivery systems and drug formulation technologies
In these projects we seek to develop new methods for the production and characterization of polymeric nanoparticles (polymeric NPs) and other nanoscale drug delivery systems that enable the controlled dosing of different classes of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Keywords: Drug delivery, drug formulations, engineering, active pharmaceutical ingredients, polymers, microfluidics, biomaterials, materials science
In these projects we seek to develop new methods for NP production and characterization using microfluidic and traditional syntheses, chemistries, and process engineering for a range of materials in science and biomedicine.
The systemic delivery of poorly blood soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is challenging due to their hydrophobic nature. Polymeric nanoparticles (polymeric NPs) and other nanoscale drug delivery systems (DDS) enable the controlled dosing of this class of molecular therapeutics, which comprise a large fraction of modern pharmaceuticals. The API is encapsulated in the hydrophobic core of a nanoparticle with a hydrophilic outer corona thus making the DDS suitable for systemic administration. The performance of these systems (i.e., biodistribution, cellular interaction, drug release kinetics) requires precise control on the NP properties. One of the conventional methods is the bulk mixing and nanoprecipitation method. The latter is based on mixing the organic solution containing an ampiphilic block copolymer and a hydrophobic drug with an aqueous solution (e.g., water) that leads to the polymer self-assembly to drug-loaded NPs. Despite the simplicity of this method, there is a lack of control over the mixing process and can result in large NPs with a wide size distribution. Microfluidic reactors have been developed to provide a precise control on NP synthesis.
In this framework different polymers, synthesis methods, characterization methods, and processes need to be investigated to improve the drug delivery performance of polymeric nanoparticles.
In these projects we seek to develop new methods for NP production and characterization using microfluidic and traditional syntheses, chemistries, and process engineering for a range of materials in science and biomedicine.
The systemic delivery of poorly blood soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is challenging due to their hydrophobic nature. Polymeric nanoparticles (polymeric NPs) and other nanoscale drug delivery systems (DDS) enable the controlled dosing of this class of molecular therapeutics, which comprise a large fraction of modern pharmaceuticals. The API is encapsulated in the hydrophobic core of a nanoparticle with a hydrophilic outer corona thus making the DDS suitable for systemic administration. The performance of these systems (i.e., biodistribution, cellular interaction, drug release kinetics) requires precise control on the NP properties. One of the conventional methods is the bulk mixing and nanoprecipitation method. The latter is based on mixing the organic solution containing an ampiphilic block copolymer and a hydrophobic drug with an aqueous solution (e.g., water) that leads to the polymer self-assembly to drug-loaded NPs. Despite the simplicity of this method, there is a lack of control over the mixing process and can result in large NPs with a wide size distribution. Microfluidic reactors have been developed to provide a precise control on NP synthesis.
In this framework different polymers, synthesis methods, characterization methods, and processes need to be investigated to improve the drug delivery performance of polymeric nanoparticles.
Several open problems can be tackled by students in their semester projects or bachelor theses. Due to the limited duration of the project (max until Aug 2022) we can only accept ETH students.
**Polymer synthesis:**
- Synthesis and characterization of block-copolymers.
**NP synthesis and characterization:**
- Scale-up and concentration of NP synthesis.
**NP stabilization:**
- Engineering of NP formulations and processes for the long term stability of nanoparticles.
**Synthesis of drug-loaded NPs**
- Synthesis and characterization of drug-loaded polymer nanoparticles via bulk mixing and nanoprecipitation.
- Synthesis and characterization of drug-loaded polymer nanoparticles with a microdevice.
- Study on the encapsulation of different active pharmaceutical ingredients in PEG-PLA nanoparticles.
**What to expect?**
- Don't hesitate to contact us in case you are interested. You don't need any prior experience as we are going to learn everything together! : )
Several open problems can be tackled by students in their semester projects or bachelor theses. Due to the limited duration of the project (max until Aug 2022) we can only accept ETH students.
**Polymer synthesis:**
- Synthesis and characterization of block-copolymers.
**NP synthesis and characterization:**
- Scale-up and concentration of NP synthesis.
**NP stabilization:**
- Engineering of NP formulations and processes for the long term stability of nanoparticles.
**Synthesis of drug-loaded NPs**
- Synthesis and characterization of drug-loaded polymer nanoparticles via bulk mixing and nanoprecipitation.
- Synthesis and characterization of drug-loaded polymer nanoparticles with a microdevice.
- Study on the encapsulation of different active pharmaceutical ingredients in PEG-PLA nanoparticles.
**What to expect?**
- Don't hesitate to contact us in case you are interested. You don't need any prior experience as we are going to learn everything together! : )
Due to the limited duration of the project (max until September 2022) we can only accept ETH students. Interested students should contact Giovanni Bovone (gbovone@ethz.ch).
Due to the limited duration of the project (max until September 2022) we can only accept ETH students. Interested students should contact Giovanni Bovone (gbovone@ethz.ch).