Research Themes

The Nanomedicine and Bioengineering Research Laboratory (NBRL) conducts interdisciplinary research at the interface of pharmaceutical sciences, nanotechnology, biomaterials, and bioengineering. Our work focuses on designing and evaluating advanced therapeutic delivery systems that address limitations associated with conventional pharmaceutical formulations.

The laboratory combines formulation development, physicochemical characterization, experimental optimization, and biological evaluation to improve drug stability, bioavailability, site-specific delivery, therapeutic efficacy, and patient safety.

1. Nanomedicine and Advanced Drug-Delivery Systems

We design nanoscale delivery systems for the controlled, sustained, and targeted administration of therapeutic agents.

Our research includes:

• Polymeric nanoparticles

• Lipid-based nanocarriers

• Nanoemulsions and microemulsions

• Nanostructured lipid carriers

• Liposomes and vesicular systems

• Polymeric micelles

• Nanocomposites

• Hybrid nanocarriers

These platforms are investigated for their potential to improve drug solubility, protect unstable therapeutic agents, modify pharmacokinetic behaviour, and enhance delivery to specific tissues or biological compartments.

2. Targeted and Site-Specific Drug Delivery

Targeted drug delivery aims to increase therapeutic exposure at the intended site while reducing systemic toxicity and off-target effects.

Our work explores formulation strategies for:

• Receptor-mediated targeting

• Ligand-functionalized nanocarriers

• Stimuli-responsive drug delivery

• Organ- and tissue-specific delivery

• Intracellular delivery

• Controlled and sustained drug release

Particular attention is given to the relationship between carrier composition, surface properties, particle size, biological interactions, and therapeutic performance.

3. Nose-to-Brain Drug Delivery

The laboratory investigates intranasal delivery as a non-invasive strategy for transporting therapeutic agents to the central nervous system.

Research activities may include:

• Development of mucoadhesive formulations

• Preparation of polymeric and lipid-based nanocarriers

• Optimization of nasal residence time

• Evaluation of drug release and permeation

• Assessment of formulation stability

• Investigation of direct and indirect nose-to-brain transport pathways

This research is relevant to neurological and neurodegenerative disorders for which conventional systemic delivery may be limited by poor penetration across the blood-brain barrier.

4. Ocular Drug Delivery

Ocular drug delivery is constrained by rapid tear turnover, limited corneal permeability, drainage, and protective anatomical barriers.

Our research focuses on formulation approaches intended to:

• Increase ocular residence time

• Improve corneal permeation

• Reduce dosing frequency

• Sustain local drug release

• Improve formulation tolerability

• Enhance drug availability at the target ocular tissue

Investigated systems may include nanoparticles, in situ gels, nanoemulsions, lipid-based carriers, and other mucoadhesive or controlled-release formulations.

5. Polymeric and Lipid-Based Nanocarriers

The laboratory develops nanocarriers using natural, synthetic, biodegradable, and biocompatible materials.

Key research questions include:

• How material composition influences drug loading and release

• How particle size and surface charge affect biological interactions

• How formulation variables influence stability

• How carrier structure affects cellular uptake

• How surface modification can improve targeting

• How manufacturing conditions affect reproducibility

The selection of polymers, lipids, surfactants, stabilizers, and functional excipients is guided by the physicochemical properties of the therapeutic agent and the intended route of administration.

6. Nanophytomedicine

Nanophytomedicine applies nanotechnology to plant-derived bioactive compounds, phytoconstituents, and standardized herbal extracts.

Many phytoconstituents exhibit promising biological activity but may have limited therapeutic utility because of poor aqueous solubility, chemical instability, low permeability, rapid metabolism, or insufficient bioavailability.

Our research examines nanocarrier-based approaches to:

• Improve the solubility of plant-derived compounds

• Protect sensitive phytoconstituents from degradation

• Enhance absorption and bioavailability

• Control or sustain drug release

• Improve delivery to specific tissues

• Reduce formulation-related variability

All phytopharmaceutical research should be supported by appropriate chemical characterization, quality control, and biological validation.

7. Nanotheranostics

Nanotheranostics integrates therapeutic delivery with diagnostic or imaging functions within a single nanoscale platform.

Our research interests include multifunctional systems that may combine:

• Drug delivery

• Molecular targeting

• Imaging or diagnostic agents

• Controlled release

• Monitoring of therapeutic response

This research area requires careful evaluation of material safety, functional performance, reproducibility, and translational feasibility.

8. Quality by Design in Formulation Development

NBRL applies Quality by Design principles to improve the scientific understanding, robustness, and reproducibility of pharmaceutical formulations.

The general workflow includes:

1. Defining the Quality Target Product Profile

2. Identifying Critical Quality Attributes

3. Identifying Critical Material Attributes

4. Identifying Critical Process Parameters

5. Conducting risk assessment

6. Applying Design of Experiments

7. Establishing a design space

8. Optimizing the formulation and process

9. Verifying the optimized conditions

10. Developing an appropriate control strategy

Statistical experimental design is used to evaluate interactions among formulation and process variables while reducing unnecessary experimentation.

9. Biomaterials and Nanocomposites

The laboratory investigates biomaterials and nanocomposites for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.

Research may involve:

• Biodegradable polymers

• Functional hydrogels

• Mucoadhesive materials

• Polymer-lipid composites

• Drug-loaded nanocomposites

• Surface-modified biomaterials

• Materials for controlled therapeutic release

These systems are evaluated for physicochemical properties, drug compatibility, mechanical behaviour, swelling, degradation, release characteristics, and biological performance, depending on the intended application.

10. Preformulation and Physicochemical Characterization

Preformulation studies provide the scientific basis for selecting an appropriate delivery system and manufacturing process.

Typical investigations include:

• Aqueous solubility

• Partition behaviour

• Drug-excipient compatibility

• Thermal properties

• Crystallinity

• Particle size distribution

• Polydispersity

• Zeta potential

• Surface morphology

• Encapsulation efficiency

• Drug loading

• In vitro release

• Formulation stability

Analytical methods are selected according to the characteristics of the drug, excipients, dosage form, and intended biological application.

11. Formulation Optimization and Translational Development

The laboratory seeks to develop formulations that are scientifically robust and potentially scalable.

In addition to demonstrating proof of concept, we consider:

• Batch-to-batch reproducibility

• Process scalability

• Raw-material variability

• Storage stability

• Sterilization requirements

• Route-specific safety

• Regulatory expectations

• Manufacturing feasibility

• Cost and accessibility

Translation from an experimental formulation to a clinically relevant product requires evidence from analytical, biological, pharmacokinetic, toxicological, manufacturing, and regulatory studies.

Research Approach

Our projects typically follow an integrated research workflow:

Problem identification → Preformulation → Carrier selection → Experimental design → Formulation development → Physicochemical characterization → In vitro evaluation → Biological assessment → Stability testing → Data analysis → Optimization

The specific experimental pathway depends on the therapeutic agent, dosage form, route of administration, and research objective.

Research Applications

Our research themes may contribute to formulation strategies for:

• Neurological disorders

• Ocular diseases

• Cancer

• Infectious diseases

• Chronic inflammatory conditions

• Metabolic disorders

• Poorly soluble therapeutic agents

• Plant-derived bioactive compounds

The mention of an application area does not imply clinical validation. Individual projects differ in their stage of development and level of experimental evidence.

Research Collaboration

NBRL welcomes scientifically relevant collaborations in:

• Pharmaceutical nanotechnology

• Drug-delivery research

• Biomaterials

• Formulation optimization

• Analytical characterization

• Cellular and molecular evaluation

• Pharmacokinetic studies

• Preclinical research

• Computational and statistical modelling

Prospective collaborators should provide a concise description of the proposed research question, available expertise, expected contribution, required facilities, and anticipated outputs.