SZTE Nanotechnological Research Group
Principal investigator: Dr. Rita Ambrus habil PhD
Modern pharmaceutical technology is focused on formulations that are targeted to the exact site at the appropriate time, with maximum efficiency and with reduced side-effects. Nanoparticle engineering has been developed and reported for pharmaceutical applications. In this approach, poorly water-soluble compounds are formulated as nanometer-sized (< 1000 nm) drug particles. Nanoparticulate technology offers increased bioavailability, improved absorption, and the potential for drug targeting.
The main question of our work how we can use and apply the prepared nanosized systems (as predispersions) in drug formulation (to reach local or systemic effect) to get effective therapies in different diseases. Therefore we should find cost-effective production by new technological processes containing the most important technological and material parameters.
In our group, various methods are used to decrease particle size into the micro- or the nanosize range can be divided into two main categories: bottom-up and top-down techniques. These two categories are not separated sharply, because the use of the top-down together with the bottom-up technique is important to control the particle size. Basically we focus for the followings: research and development of dry/wet milling; ultrasonic assisted nanoprecipitation; preparation of nanocarriers.
We use a wide variety of technological procedures: co-milling, high-pressure homogenization, laser fragmentation, high-intensity ultrasound, solvent-antisolvent precipitation, nano-spray-drying, freeze-drying, coating, preparation of nanocapsule and nanofibers and different administration routes (per oral, pulmonary and nasal). The applied model drugs are: antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, pharmacons affect the central nervous system. Characterization of micrometric and physicochemical properties, structure, compatibility, stability, in vitro, ex vivo, in silico and in vivo properties as investigation methods could be found for scientific evaluations.