Biography:

Abstract:

Aromatase is an enzyme that leads the bioconversion of androgen into estrogen, which is a main source for cell proliferation and growth in hormone dependent breast cancer. Letrozole (LTZ) is a third generation potent aromatase inhibitor that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of hormone positive breast cancer. The current formulation (Femara®) lacks an effective bioavailability due to LTZ poor-water solubility and rapid systemic metabolism.

Biography:

Saravanan has completed his Masters in Pharmaceutics at the age of 24 years and PhD at the age of 32 years from Chennai, India. He has also completed GCHE at Monash University. Saravanan has nearly 20 years of experience in teaching pharmacy graduates and supervising research students. Presently, He is the Deputy Head of School of Pharmacy, Monash University, Malaysia. He has published more than 30 research papers in reputed journals and has been serving as peer reviewer for several high-quality journals. He is also an editorial board member of reputed journals.

Abstract:

Recently, we have reported ciprofloxacin loaded radiation cross-linked hydrogel for sustained drug delivery. To avoid radiation-induced degradation during formulation, the present study focuses on loading drug in pre-irradiated and sterilized material for extemporaneous use. Carboxymethyl sago pulp (CMSP) was synthesized using classical Williamson etherification. The degrees of substitution, intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight of synthesized CMSP were determined as 0.4, 184.33 dl/g and 75974 g/mol, respectively. 10 and 20% w/v solution of CMSP was irradiated at 10, 20, 25 and 30 kGy to form hydrogels and evaluated by % gel fraction. 10% w/v CMSP solutions produced 2.41-2.61 % of gel fraction irrespective of the irradiation dose. In contrast, 20 %w/v CMSP solution produced hydrogels whose gel fraction inversely proportional to applied irradiation dose. Irradiation dose of 10 kGy has produced the highest average gel fraction of 9.05% (range of 8.31 to 10.05 %) and further increase in irradiation dose actually reduce the % gel fraction. Hydrogel with gel fraction of 10.05% were cut into discs (thickness of 2 ± 0.2 mm and diameter of 4 ± 0.4 mm) and loaded with ciprofloxacin hydrochloride by immersing in the drug solution. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed the transformation of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride into ciprofloxacin during the loading process. DSC along with scanning electron microscopy revealed the crystalline nature of loaded drug. CMSP disc loaded with ciprofloxacin sustained the drug release over 24 h. The release was diffusion controlled and followed first-order kinetics.

Biography:

Guang Zhang received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Three Gorges University, China, in 2012 and M. S degree in Mechatronic Engineering from both Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, China and Andong National University, Republic of Korea. In his master study, he mainly did the research in numerical simulation and schlieren measurement on micro shock tubes. Currently, he is pursuing his doctoral courses in Andong National University. His research interests include micro shock tubes and PIV Measurement.

Abstract:

Recently, an innovative injection method called needle-free drug delivery has been widely used for delivering drug particles into human body without any external needles in medical fields. The contoured shock tube (CST) consisting of a micro shock tube and an expanded supersonic nozzle is the main component in need-free drug delivery device. Shock wave happens in micro shock tube, and supersonic flow with drug particles is induced by the shock wave and accelerated in the expanded nozzle. Drug particles should be accelerated to obtain enough momentum to be delivered into the suitable layer of the skin. Even though needle-free drug delivery system has been studied for a long time, detailed experimental data on shock wave and particle-gas two phase flows in CST was sparse to date. In the present study, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system was used for measuring the instantaneous velocity of the gas-particle flow behind propagating shock wave in designed CST model as is shown in Fig. 1. Unsteady flow properties and shock wave propagation were analyzed by the instantaneous velocity fields. Schlieren visualization was performed to observe the shock wave structure and propagation in the CST. Based on the density change of flow, the shock wave characteristics were obviously observed by the camera with high resolution. Pressure measurement was also carried out. Six high sensitive pressure transducers were employed to record pressure changes as the shock wave moved through different locations along walls in the test section. Numerical simulation was performed with unsteady compressible Naver-stokes equations which were solved by using a fully implicit finite volume scheme. Experimental results were compared with CFD simulation.

Biography:

Victor Lopez Davila is a PhD candidate at University College London (UK) in the field of Nanomedicie and Tissue Engineering. He completed his MSc in Nanomedicine in Cranfield University (UK) and his BSc in Biotechnology in Lleida University (Spain) in 2011. He also works part time as a biobank technician for Tissue Access for Patient’s Benefit (TAPB), and as a perfusionist at the Royal Free organ retrieval team in London.

Abstract:

Background: Colorectal cancer therapy shows very low response rates, leaving room for improvement. One of the most popular approaches to overcome this limitation is the use of organic nanocarriers to improve drug delivery. Methods: In this work we used cationic DOPE/DC-cholesterol liposomes and GCPQ micelles to deliver AZD6244, an inhibitor of the MAPK pathway, to colorectal cancer cells. HCT116 cells were cultured in monolayers and in collagen-based 3D models (tumouroids), and treated with different concentrations of AZD6244 as a free drug as well as in micelle and liposome nanoformulations. Fluorescent nanoparticles were used to track the penetration of these nanocarriers into the tumouroids. Results: Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery proved to be very superior to the free drug in monolayers, while the low diffusion of the nanoparticles through the dense collagen mass hindered their therapeutic effect in tumouroids. Contrary to this, the free drug was significantly more efficient in tumouroids than in monolayers, suggesting very different cellular behaviour between these models. Conclusions: These results highlight the role of nanoparticles in improving drug delivery and the need to include 3D models in early phases of drug development, particularly in the case of nanoformulations.

Biography:

Gintare Leonaviciute was born in Lithuania in 1987. She currently is a PhD student in Austria of University in Innsbruck (Department of Pharmaceutical Technology). Her research interests focus on the oral drug delivery systems. She finished her studies in pharmacy at The Kaunas University of Medicine. During her studies she was a part of an Erasmus exchange program and went for one year to accomplish an internship abroad. In addition, she was working at Daichii Sankyo, Munich (Germany) as a pharmacist. She fluently speaks German, English, and Lithuanian.

Abstract:

The aim of this study is the development of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) with improved resistance towards pancreatic lipases and with protective effect against luminal enzymatic metabolism using leuprorelin as model peptide drug. Material and Methods: Hydrophobic leuprolide oleate obtained after leuprolide acetate complexation with sodium oleate was incorporated into three different SNEDDS formulations. SNEDDS stability towards pancreatic lipases was investigated utilizing a dynamic in vitro digestion model simulating small intestinal digestion. Protective effect of SNEDDS in respect to peptide drug stability against proteolytic enzymes, trypsin and alfa- chymotrypsin, was determined via HPLC1. Leuprorelin acetate in an aqueous control solution served as control. Results: All formulations were dispersed in a concentration of 1% (m/v) in simulated gastrointestinal fluid at pH 6.5. Results of in vitro digestion demonstrated that 80% of SNEDDS containing the highest amount of ester linkages was degraded within 60 min. In comparison to that, SNEDDS without ester bonds showed no degradation. With increasing oil droplets hydrolysis the remaining amount of peptide encapsulated into formulation decreased. Furthermore, after 180 min incubation with trypsin up to 33.5% and with chymotrypsin up to 60.5% of leuprolide oleate was still intact while control solution was completely metabolized by trypsin within 120 min and by α-chymotrypsin within 5 min. Protective effect in environment containing lipases was lower due to oil phase degradation, however, the amount of peptide in SNEDDS free of ester linkages was remarkably higher (48.14 %) compared to control solution and SNEDDS susceptible to lipases.

Biography:

I am Taddese Mekonnen Ambaye from Ethiopia. I am 31 years old man. Academically, I have Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy and MSc in Pharmaceutics. I have been working in the positions of Assistant Lecturer and Lecturer ranks at the School of Pharmacy, University of Gondar since 2007. I have been participating in teaching, research and community service activities. I have also four years of leadership experience at the school. Regarding research activities, I have published six papers as principal and coauthor. I used to work hard to put my contribution to the development of the pharmaceutical sector in my country.

Abstract:

In modern pharmaceutical dosage forms, excipients often fulfill multi-functional roles such as modifying release, improvement of the stability and bioavailability of the active ingredient, enhancement of patient acceptability and ensure ease of manufacture. New and improved excipients continue to be developed to meet these needs of advanced drug delivery systems. The objective of this study was to extract, characterize and evaluate myrrh gum as binding agent in granule and tablet formulations using paracetamol as a model drug in comparison with standard binders (PVP and Acacia). The gum fraction of myrrh was extracted, purified and characterized for its physicochemical properties. Batches of granules containing paracetamol were prepared using 2 %, 5 %, 7.5 % and 10 % w/w of myrrh gum and the reference binders. Tablets were evaluated for their mechanical and release properties. Result indicated myrrh gum exhibited high relative solubility in cold and hot water, low swelling power, acceptable moisture content, small total ash, no tannin and starch/dextrin content, mucilage with acidic pH and high viscosity, and excellent powder flow properties. Granules showed good particle size and size distribution, excellent flow and compressibility properties. The crushing strength, disintegration and dissolution times of the tablets increased with increased binder concentration while their friability decreased. All tablets passed standard specifications with respect to disintegration time, uniformity of weight, thickness, diameter, friability, hardness and tensile strength except friability at 2% binder and disintegration times at 10% myrrh gum and acacia. Comparison of the in vitro drug release showed tablets prepared with myrrh gum gave better drug release than acacia and comparable to PVP. This suggests that myrrh gum could be useful alternative binding agent especially when optimum mechanical strength and release required.

Biography:

Giuseppina Salzano graduated in Pharmacy in 2007 at the University of Naples in Italy and in 2010 she specialized in Hospital Pharmacy at the same University. She received her PhD in Pharmaceutical Science in 2014 at the University of Naples, Italy. Since 2012, she is working at the Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Nanomedicine in Boston (USA), where she is a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Dr. Salzano has constantly worked on the development of drug delivery systems for the treatment of different diseases. She is author of more than 20 papers and inventors of 2 international patents.

Abstract:

Since its discovery small interfering RNAs (siRNA) have quickly crept into the biopharmaceutical research as a powerful tool for the treatment of different human diseases based on altered gene-expression. Despite promising data from pre-clinical studies, concrete hurdles still need to be overcome to bring therapeutic siRNAs in clinic. With this in mind, we have reversibly modified siRNA with a phosphothioethanol (PE) portion via a reducible disulfide bond and incorporated the resulting siRNA-S-S-PE conjugate into nanosized polyethyelene glycol 2000-phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PEG2000-PE)-based polymeric micelles (PM). Then, we successfully co-incorporated in the same PM an anti-survivin siRNA-S-S-PE conjugate and chemotherapeutic agents, such as paclitaxel (PXL) for combined therapy. The developed nanopreparation showed high colloidal stability, high incorporation efficiency of both active agents, and small particle sizes compatible for parenteral administration. In an animal model of cancer, the micelles accumulate in distal tumors and delivered anti–survivin siRNA and PXL in sufficiently high amounts to mediate a potent and specific survivin downregulation and to improve anticancer activity as compared with single agents. In addition, survivin downregulation by anti–survivin siRNA/PXL PM mediated the sensitization of a resistant ovarian tumor to non-effective doses of PXL. Compared to conventional systems for siRNA delivery, we suggested a new type of platform that can respond to local stimuli, such as high levels of reductase in cancer cells, and release the siRNA free and active at the desired site. Moreover, the developed PM are suitable to incorporate different type of active agents for combined therapy.

Biography:

Wina Maryana is completing her Ph.D from Research Group of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Institut Teknologi Bandung. She has published five papers in reputed journals.

Abstract:

Silymarin is a unique flavonoid complex isolated from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) and has been widely used as hepatoprotective agent. Orally administered silymarin will be absorbed rapidly and only 20-50% of silymarin will be absorbed through gastrointestinal tract, resulting on its low bioavailability. Those limitations are due to its poorly soluble either in water and oil and its low intestinal permeability. This study was aimed to develop silymarin-loaded phytosomes to improve silymarin bioavailability with sufficient safety and stability. This system consists of silymarin-phospholipid complex prepared by solvent evaporation method, which was incorporated to formed phytosome shape vesicles using thin layer method with various concentration and molar ratio of silymarin and phospholipid. Phytosome vesicles size was reduced using probe sonication. The result demonstrated that formula with 2% silymarin-phospholipid complex and molar ratio of 1:5 showed the best physical properties with mean vesicle diameter of 133.53±8.76 nm, polydispersity index of 0.34±0.08, entrapment efficiency of 97.17±2.41 %, loading capacity of 12.18±0.30%, and good stability after freeze thaw stability test. Analysis of FTIR spectroscopy and DSC was confirmed the presence of physical and chemical interactions between silymarin and phospholipid complex. Well formed and discrete vesicles of phytosome were revealed by Transmission Electron Microscopy, drug content, and freeze thaw stability test.