Drug delivery

• describe the fundamental design principles behind drug loaded lipidic and polymeric nanocarrriers.
• describe the fundamental biological barriers to drug delivery.
• describe biology-nanocarrier-drug dynamics.
• analyse drug delivery research publications to compare and contrast nanocarrier based strategies to drug delivery.
• analyse advanced targeting and release strategies, through compare and contrast, to overcome biological barriers.
• evaluate drug delivery research publications to critique nanocarrier based strategies and select appropriate strategies for human disease treatment.
• evaluate the potential of advanced tissue targeting and controlled release strategies for human disease treatment.
• design a new nanocarrier based strategy through the selection of appropriate drugs and nanocarrier physicochemical properties to overcome biological barriers and treat a specific disease.

The development of advanced drug loaded nanocarriers that can deliver drugs in a targeted manner to diseased tissues, increase drug uptake and transport drugs across biological barriers is becoming increasingly important for the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare. 22235 is mainly focused on the chemcical aspects of how lipidic and polymeric nanocarriers can be designed to improve efficacy and how these nanodrugs interact with the biological milieu, ranging from serum proteins to organs. 22235 will introduce a range of therapeutics (pharmaco, biologic and gene) along with the lipidic and polymeric carrier chemistry. Research articles in nanocarrier based drug delivery will be used as a method to introduce strategies and fundamental concepts in this research field. This will introduce both cutting edge and historical aspects of the field allowing students to understand design principles. Students will analyse and evaluate these design principles. Lecture slides/videos will be used to introduce and/or reaffirm basic concepts in drug delivery. Ultimately in the project component students will design a new nanocarrier based strategy for a disease of their choice.

A good basic understanding of chemistry (1 or more of medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry and physical chemistry) and biology (1 or more of human physiology, eukaryotic cell biology and molecular biology).

A solutions based learning approach will be used to explore the design and engineering of drug loaded nanocarriers. Research and review articles in combination with lectures (slides and/or videos) will be used throughout the course as learning aids.

Minimum: 20.

Please be aware that this course will only be held if the required minimum number of participants is met. You will be informed 8 days before the start of the course, whether the course will be held.