Controlled/modified release dosage forms: terminology, release rate and dose, drug properties relevant to modified release formulation, potential advantages of modified formulations.
Controlled/modified drug delivery systems: ion-exchange resins, diffusion systems, dissolution systems, erodible systems and osmotic systems.
Osmotic controlled drug delivery systems: classification (one or two chambers), important formulation and technological aspects in the development of osmotic systems. Examples of dosage forms: L-OROS, OROS-CT, Duros.
Parenteral dosage forms: intramuscular injections and implants (Ocusert® and Progestasert®).
Dermal and transdermal drug delivery systems.
Cyclodextrins: classification, factors affecting inclusion complex formation, mechanisms of drug release from cyclodextrin complexes; pharmaceutical applications of cyclodextrins.
Drug Targeting: passive targeting, physical/chemical targeting, active targeting.
Drug delivery systems
Erythrocytes as drug carrier
Drug-antibody complexes
Liposomes: lipid chemistry, effect of molecular shape on the structure of the amphiphilic aggregate, methods of liposome preparations; liposome classification; physicochemical characterization of liposome; liposome stability (physical, chemical and biological stabilities); interaction of liposomes with cells, pH-sensitive liposomes, temperature-sensitive liposomes; "Stealth” and sterically stabilized liposomes; immunoliposomes; liposome pharmacokinetics; application of liposomes as drug delivery systems (medical and cosmetic applications of liposomes in humans); technological characterization of liposomes, industrial manufacture of liposomes.
Non-phospholipid vesicular systems (Niosomes): surfactant chemistry; factors leading to niosome formation; niosome classification, physicochemical and technological characterization of niosome; niosome stability (chemical and biological stability); niosomes in drug delivery and targeting.
Microparticles and nanoparticles: preparation methods; physicochemical and technological characterization; long circulating nanoparticles; mucoadhesive nanoparticles (composition and mucoadhesion theories); pharmaceutical application of microparticles and nanoparticles.
Preformulation:
Analytical methods and industrial application.
Stability and stabilization of drugs and dosage forms:
Physical and chemical factors affecting drug and dosage form degradation, kinetics (first and zero order) and product stability.
Biotechnological proteins:
Manufacture (recombinant DNA technology), production and downstream processing of biotech products, formulation of biotech products.
Genetic Drugs (DNA and oligonucleotides):
Gene therapy; antisense and anti-gene therapy; molecular mechanisms of antisense and anti-gene drugs; design and synthesis of oligonucleotide; biological barriers to gene delivery.
DNA and the oligonucleotide delivery: viral and synthetic carriers (cationic lipids, cationic polymers and lipopolyplexes). All the formulation aspects necessary for the design of innovative vaccines are also covered: adenoviruses, hybrid, polymeric and lipid nanoparticles.
