While significant advances have been made in administrating these biologics through the parental routes, delivering these molecules orally remains a major challenge for pharmaceutical industry. This could be attributed to several hurdles such as poor absorption across gut as poor absorption, hostile environment of the stomach and enzymatic degradation in small intestine. Hydrogels are three dimensional polymeric networks that imbibe water. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in deploying stimuli-responsive robotic capsules with transforming parts to respond to hydration, pH and temperature changes. Such novel approach has the potential to revolutionise the delivery of large molecules that are currently only available through the parental route.
This project aims to apply the latest development of material sciences, computer-aided design and additive manufacturing (3D printing) to design, prototype and manufacture stimuli-responsive robotic capsules with a focus on facilitating oral delivery of biologics.
Person specification
We are looking to recruit ambitious and motivated graduates with pharmaceutical or engineering background who are interested in carrying out ground-breaking research for fabrication and functionalisation of next-generation drug delivery systems for proteins.
Research training
The candidate will pursue a PhD programme in the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London. The institute is top 20 Pharmacy and pharmacology school in QS university ranking. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-courses/cancer-and-pharmaceutical-sciences-mphil-phd
The project will involve using several techniques such as computer aided design (CAD), 3D printing technologies, physical characterization of hydrogel, essential protein formulation, in vitro permeability studies using cell-line models and in vivo proof of concept in model animals.
Dr Alhnan has a world-leading expertise in pharmaceutical additive manufacturing https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/alhnan.html https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=boaKXLsAAAAJ&hl=en
Informal enquiries with CV are welcome to be sent to Dr Mohamed A Alhnan:
[Email Address Removed]
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