About the group
Our main focus is formulation of photoreactive drugs and biological products with emphasis on pharmaceutical active ingredients with poor drugability (e.g., low solubility, poor stability, high aggregation probablility, proteins). The drug delivery systems are based on nanoparticles (e.g., polymeric micelles, cyclodextrins), gels, sponges and solid foams.
The clinical applications are mainly antimicrobial- and cancer photodynamic therapy (aPDT/PDT). The primary sites for drug release are the oral cavity, skin (i.e., wounds) and brain tumors.
The group is also dealing with photodegradation issues and performs photostability testing according to the ICH Guideline (ICH Q1B).
Sustainability
We support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and our activities are relevant for several of the goals, in particular:
Specialties
- Photoreactivity of drugs and drug formulations
- Solubilization technology
- Nanovehilces such as cyclodextrins and polymeric micelles
- Application of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) in aPDT
- Formulation of collagen-based gels and sponges
- Formulation of solid foams
- Formulation of supersaturated systems
Current projects
- Natural deep eutectic solvents - Development of green antimicrobial products
- Photostability of parenterals
Collaboration
We have international and national research collaboration through that network and also through the Erasmus program and other exchange programs.
Main national collaborators:
- NIOM - Nordic Institute of Dental Materials, Oslo
- Nofima AS, Oslo
- Norilia AS, Oslo
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
- Oslo University Hospital
Main international collaborators:
- Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Department of Physics and Mathematical Sciences, University of Insubria at Como, Italy
- Department for Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Germany
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
- Universitat Polytecnica de Valencia, Spain
- Knight Scientific Ltd., UK
Academic programmes and courses
Special Instrumentation
PharmaLuxLab is equipped with the following special instrumentation:
- Irradiation sources for photostability and photoactivation studies: monochromator, Suntest CPS+, light chambers for photopolymerization
- Color measurement device (Minolta)
- Nano DSC and Nano ITC (TA instruments) for studies of biomolecules, polymeric micelles and drug interactions with macromolecules
- Other general equipment, such as freeze driers, HPLC, spectrophotometers etc.
