Advanced Drug Delivery

The course gives a deep understanding of the molecular properties of drugs and how they affect the choice of drug delivery system and administration route. Furthermore, it describes how pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models are used to predict the bioavailability and effect of drugs for different administration routes. We relate barrier properties (physiological, biochemical, chemical), transport proteins and enzymes to their importance for drug delivery via different administration routes. This includes cell culture models to study mechanisms of drug transport across biological barriers. We study intracellular drug delivery and subcellular drug distribution and how to choose appropriate drug delivery systems so that drugs can cross these barriers. The course will furthermore cover formulation principles for different administration routes; pulmonary, parenteral, oral, dermal and vaginal. This includes colloidal and semi-solid systems (e.g. liposomes, gels), solid mesoporous carriers, nanocarriers and prodrug strategies as well as advanced characterisation methods for drug delivery systems in silico and in vitro. Finally, we will discuss regulatory aspects when choosing a drug delivery system and dosage form.