Design and Assessment of Innovative Long-Acting Drug Delivery System

About the Project

Current clinical therapies often rely on intermittent drug administration, such as frequent oral tablets or injections, as seen in diabetes management. However, drug concentrations in the bloodstream tend to drop below therapeutic levels within hours, necessitating frequent doses. This creates a “peak-and-valley” effect, where high drug levels can cause toxicity, while low levels may be ineffective, an issue especially problematic in managing chronic conditions. In certain cases, achieving high concentrations at specific sites of action without impacting other areas is critical, but systemic dosing can lead to toxicity in non-target organs. Long-acting drug delivery systems (LADDSs), including implants, devices, depot-forming gels, and micro/nanoparticles - offer a promising solution by providing sustained, targeted drug release.

Our proposed project seeks to develop an innovative LADDS platform for the long-term delivery of a broad range of therapeutics, with the potential to address multiple clinical indications. This approach aims to reduce the frequency of medication intake, enhance treatment effectiveness, improve patient compliance, and provide a more effective strategy for managing chronic diseases. Over the course of this three-year PhD project, the student will:

1. Perform Gap Analysis, Comprehensive Literature Review, and Project Design Development.
2. Design, develop, and characterize drug-loaded LADDs.
3. Develop and qualify analytical techniques for charactering both polymer and drug molecules.
4. Develop and investigate techniques for efficient in vitro and ex vivo characterisation of LADDs.
5. Evaluate the biodegradability, biocompatibility, and performance modeling of selected LADDS in relevant bench-top and computational models.

The student will receive extensive training in experimental design, protocol development, and advanced techniques for creating novel LADDs-based formulations. They will work within one of the leading Ocular Drug Delivery Research groups in the UK, which emphasizes an industry-focused approach. This aligns with the skill requirements of the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, preparing the student to be career-ready upon graduation. Key skills developed will include project management, problem solving, analytical thinking, proposal and protocol writing, data analysis, quality control, and presentation skills.

By collaborating with seasoned researchers from both industry and academia, the student will gain practical experience and have opportunities to present their findings at national and international conferences. Through this project, they will build a comprehensive skill set that positions them for future roles in pharmaceutical product development and drug delivery, making them highly valuable to both academic and commercial sectors.

Training that will be provided through the research project

PhD students will receive comprehensive training in key areas such as pharmaceutical formulation, pharmaceutical analysis, microbiology, and mathematical modelling. Throughout the program, students will engage in a wide range of R&D activities, equipping them to become independent researchers and fully prepared for roles in academia or the pharmaceutical industry. They will develop critical skills in experimental design, data analysis, and problem-solving, supported by opportunities to present their research at prestigious national and international conferences. This unique training experience offers a solid foundation for advancing their careers in cutting-edge drug development and pharmaceutical innovation.

Expected impact activities

This project is expected to drive significant advancements in drug delivery by developing innovative, sustained-release formulations, reducing the need for frequent dosing, and improving patient compliance. The training program will also produce skilled researchers ready to contribute to the pharmaceutical industry, equipped with expertise in formulation, analysis, and cutting-edge R&D methods, thereby strengthening the talent pipeline in drug development

Funding Notes

This project is not funded; applications are welcome from self-funding candidates.

References

long-acting drug delivery, Sustained release, Controlled drug release, Polymer science, drug delivery