1) Nano Drug Delivery Systems

Development of colloidal drug delivery systems e.g. liposomes, niosomes, microemulsion, micellar solution and nanoparticles to improve the site-specific delivery of model drugs both water-soluble agent such as lidocaine HCl and water-insoluble molecules e.g. peptide, protein, and diagnostic agent. In order to determine the structure in nanoscale the different physico-chemical characterizing techniques are involved e.g. scattering methods (light, X-rays and neutron), microscopies (TEM, SEM, AFM, fluorescence, polarization), calorimetry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), UV/Vis spectroscopy, and chromatography. The in-vitro test in cell cultures as well as in physical apparatus are of interest to obtain the maximum of informations. The knowledge about the structure in nanoscale will give a better understanding for the formulation of these systems.

2) Nano-Structure of Model Membranes

The nano-structure of model membranes can be detected by using the scattering techniques, calorimetry and spectroscopy. These model membranes can be used as alternative to the in-vivo test in order to minimize the test in animals. These model membranes can be prepared from phospholipids or phospholipid mixtures or in some cases the model can be the skin of dead animals (e.g. pigs) respectively shed skin of snakes during the natural skin changing process. These skins are suitable as models because they can be compared to cell membranes of living cells e.g. human or bacteria.

3) Pharmaceutical Process Development and Quality Management

Development of pharmaceutical products using different techniques e.g. fluidized bed, tabletting, etc. The finished products can be characterized by physico-chemical techniques e.g. x-ray powder diffraction, TLC, DSC, NMR, FTIR, etc. in order to determine the quality. Quality management by validation, qualification and documentations are included.