This project spans across two or our research groups: ‘New medicines’ (Prof MacKay) and ‘Better Medicines’ (Prof Perrie) and is focused on elucidating the factors controlling drug solubilisation within liposomes using microfluidics.

Many small molecule (<500 Da) drugs tend to have limited solubility eg <1.5mg/ml. In order to achieve therapeutic efficiency, many of these compounds require solubility enhancement through formulation engineering. This project will apply colloidal surfactant vesicles to enhance the solubility and delivery of poorly soluble drugs. To understand the mechanistic processes involved, a systematic examination into the influence of vesicle design and construction on structural (vesicle size and morphology) and physico-chemical (e.g. optimum drug payload and retention, surface and bilayer characteristics) properties will be performed. Results from these investigations will not only generate relevant new knowledge by defining the parameters controlling inclusion of solutes within these surfactant vesicles, but will also provide the resources to design and manufacture vectors which can improve the delivery of these therapeutic molecules based on their molecular characteristics. Furthermore, this studentship programme  will provide effective training to a graduate student supporting their development of key transferable skills and expertise in an valuable and productive pharmaceutical field which will be relevant in both the Academic and Industrial setting.

This project will involve a range of liposome manufacturing tools including microfluidics and extrusion to prepare liposomes and these systems will be characterised using a range of analytical techniques relevant to nanotechnology and drug delivery.

1.              Joshi, S, Hussain, MT, Roces, CB, Anderluzzi, G, Kastner, E, Salmaso, S, Kirby, DJ, and Perrie, Y* (2016). Microfluidics based manufacture of liposomes simultaneously entrapping hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. Int J Pharm., 514(1); 160-168.