Controlled Drug Release Systems

Polymer Nanoparticle and Film based drug releasing systems

In Cancer

The application of biodegradable polymeric particles in the scale of nanometers as a controlled release dosage form of anticancer drugs has generated immense interest among researchers. Nanoparticle can improve the bioavailabity of poorly absorbed drugs and nanoparticles are able to penetrate cells for cellular internalization, it can penetrate connective tissues, hence the drug delivery can be efficiently done to the targeted tissues without clogging capillaries. The ability of nanoparticles to improve drug diffusion through biological barriers is a typical benefit for the delivery of anticancer agents. We have synthesized different biodegrading polymeric nanoparticles of Polyester family like PLA, PGA and PLGA based systems with anticancer drugs. We have also synthesized drug loaded polymer films and in the present area we focus to create new polymer based implanting systems for drug releasing applications.

In Ophthalmic

Eye-drops represent 90% of all ophthalmic dosage forms. There is a significant effort directed towards new drug delivery systems in ophthalmic administration. An ophthalmic drug delivery system will be one, which can be delivered in eye-drop form with no creation of blurred vision or irritancy and which needs not more than one to two instillations each day. The emergency of new and innovative means for improving therapeutic efficacy suggests that a greater choice of dosage forms will be provided. Nanoparticles represent promising drug carriers for ophthalmic applications. The binding of drugs depend on the physiochemical properties of the drug as well as the nanoparticle material and also the manufacturing process. In the present area we are trying to develop novel ocular drug releasing systems as eye drops for opthalmic applications.

Solid phase peptide synthesis

Since Merrifield’s original report over three decades ago describing solid phase synthesis of a simple tetra peptide on low crosslinked polystyrene beads, the approach has been improved and generalized to the synthesis of complicated peptides, long oligonucleotides and myriad of small organic molecules. The success of such efforts is often affected by choice of polymeric support, with regard to mechanical stability, swellability and compatibility with a range of hydrophilic/ hydrophobic solvents. The present area focuses to synthesis novel polymer supports for Solid Phase peptide Synthesis.

Development of degradable scaffolds for cell differentiation.

Many attempts have been made to engineer, small caliber arterial substitutes involving synthetic polymeric materials coupled with biological modification to improve biocompatibility. Occurrence of thrombosis is still a main problem encountered in small diameter blood vessel reconstruction with polymeric materials. Many polylactic or polyglycolide based scaffolds employed, fails to achieve the necessary compliance like cell adhesion, proliferation and growth factor release. Development of matrices with all these properties is still a challenge. Effort to enhance the functional property of these systems, we are looking in the present project a possible designing of a novel vascular graft of multilayer cell seeding on a new polymer. The study aims at preparing three dimensional spongy hybrid carrier scaffolds for multi purpose vascular application: requiring Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell [VSMC] adhesion, proliferation, and growth factor signaling on one side as a layer on carrier scaffold, and Endothelial Cell [EC] on other layer of the carrier scaffold using suitable porogen.

For neuronal cell transplantation

Synthetic biodegradable polymer scaffolds are great promise in tissue engineering. In the present work we are trying to improve the efficiency of transplantation by incorporating and differentiating retinal cells specifically at the degenerating site of retina using a degradable scaffold.