Formulation Science
This research team is undertaking applied pharmaceutics research especially in the fields of HPMC, hydrophilic matrix, bioadhesive liquid and other oral controlled release dosage forms. Most of these projects are collaborative research with the pharmaceutical industry with almost all the 30+ PhDs graduates from this team have gone onto successful careers in the Pharmaceutical Industry, both large multinationals and smaller start-up companies.
FIGURE 1: NMR image of the complex hydration structure that developed inside a novel HPMC controlled release hydrophilic matrix.
FIGURE 2: Mapping drug particle distribution on the surface of a pellet manufactured by spheronisation / extrusion.
Major research themes in our formulation science are:
• Novel drug delivery systems from novel concepts.
• Controlled drug delivery systems: hydrophilic matrix, pellet and bioadhesive systems.
• New microscopic methods for understanding drug release processes and microenvironmental changes inside dosage forms for example Magnetic resonance imaging, confocal laser scanning and other techniques.
We undertake investigations to gain understanding of :
• Internal drug release mechanisms in dosage forms.
• Scientific investigations of industrial problems.
Our PhD research projects arise through our strong collaborative links with the pharmaceutical industry.We will often investigate a new idea to underpin the development of novel types of dosage forms, or undertake the investigative science to solve an outstanding 'real-life' industrial problem. Research students have the additional support of regular contact with industrial scientists and you may work in their labs. These projects are well funded (incl. conference attendance) and their industrial themes provides excellent prospects for future employment of our PhD graduates in the pharmaceutical and allied industries.
Our training provides specialist knowledge in an important area of pharmaceutical dosage forms, a wide range of relevant skills and excellent job prospects in the Pharmaceutical and allied industries.
FIGURE 3: Tracking internal swelling in a hydrating polymer dosage form. From the tracks localised rate of swelling of each area can be determined.
FIGURE 4: The structure of surface gel layer formation in an HPMC tablet, during the first few minutes of hydration.