An opportunity for postgraduate study leading to the award of PhD isavailable with Dr James Birchall and Dr Glyn Taylor of the PulmonaryResearch Group, Welsh School of Pharmacy. This project will be undertaken incollaboration with 3M Healthcare Limited (subject to contract).

Description of Research Opportunity
Currently most pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDI’s) are formulated assuspensions in which micronised drug (~2-3m diameter) is suspended in thepropellant. These suspensions formulations have shown to be prone toparticle sedimentation in the device, which leads to poor dosereproducibility and inefficient lung deposition in the patient. We wish toinvestigate a novel nanotechnology comprising a low-energy process toprepare surfactant-coated nanoparticles. The nano-sized dimensions of theparticles, and their ability to efficiently disperse in pMDI propellant,produce stable aerosols capable of efficient pulmonary delivery. To datethis technology has only been used to prepare low molecular weight drugnanoparticles. We hypothesise that the technology can be adapted to preparenanoparticles containing a peptidergic drug (insulin) for systemic pulmonarydelivery and plasmid DNA for controlled, localised pulmonary delivery.

The project aims to confirm optimum formulation parameters and particlediameter of nanoparticles, develop an optimised surfactant system, quantifythe effect of mediating controlled release, determine fine particle fractionof formulation and determine the biological functionality and depositionpatterns of DNA and insulin formulations.

Funding: This studentship will be funded at the standard BBSRC rate.

Deadline for applications: Friday 9th December 2005

Further information:
For further information, please contact:Dr James Birchall Tel: 029 20875815 Email:birchalljc@cf.ac.uk
Dr Glyn Taylor Tel: 029 20875822 Email:taylorg@cf.ac.uk

Application forms can be obtained by visiting http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgapply
or
by contacting Mrs. Lynne Terrett (address below or emailTerrett@cardiff.ac.uk,

Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff
University, Redwood Building, King Edward
VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3XF UK Tel +44 (0)29 2087 6501