Research in PDD

Learn more about our excellent research.

Designing the Future of medicine

Student holding Petri Dish

Expertise in

hot-melt extrusion processing related to pharmaceutical products, novel drug delivery systems, including ‘Trans’ systems, and polymeric drug delivery design and stabilization of DDS.

Student using a centrifuge

Outstanding knowledge in

drug delivery design strategies for ocular delivery, enhancing delivery via transporter-targeted prodrugs (oral, ocular, and transmucosal), and novel ocular drug delivery platforms.

Student looking at 3D Printer

Defining excellence in

stimuli-responsive drug delivery platforms and NCEs, redox, thermal, pH-sensitive polymers, pH, ionic strength sensitive peptide-based hydrogel, and light, redox-sensitive prodrug.

Our Research Fields

Below, you will find a list of our most current research projects and links to the faculty website pages for these projects.

Dr. Eman Ashour

Dr. Ashour's research laboratory focuses on designing, developing, and optimizing small molecule drug delivery systems to increase efficacy, stability, and safety. The lab uses a number of technologies, including hot-melt extrusion, spray drying, nanotechnology, and 3D printing, to improve the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Dr. Ashour`s lab has a predominant focus on cannabis drug delivery, particularly CBD  formulation development. Moreover, Dr. Ashour`s research uses formulation composition and processing methods approaches to address different challenges in drug delivery for pediatric and geriatric populations.

Dr. Mohammed Maniruzzaman

Dr. Maniruzzaman’s lab focuses on pharmaceutical process engineering, continuous manufacturing, and 3D/4D printing of medicines, including biologics and mRNA therapeutics. Additional projects focus on application of AI/ML for drug development and delivery, space medicines, 3D bioprinting, smart medical implants as well as ultra-portable drug delivery devices.

Dr. Soumyajit Majumdar

Dr. Micheal Repka

The research in Dr. Repka’s lab focuses on pharmaceutical process engineering, specifically using hot-melt extrusion to develop various dosage forms such as modified-release tablets/capsules, subdermal implants, and dermal and transmucosal films. The lab team has pioneered two twin-screw granulation technologies for continuous manufacturing: Twin Screw-Melt Granulation (TSMG) and a patented Twin-Screw Dry Granulation (TSDG).  Both processes use twin-screw extruders for particle-size engineering.  Additionally, the lab works on enhancing solubility and dissolution using amorphous solid dispersions, creating 3D-printed medicines for fast or sustained release, and developing site-specific drug delivery systems. The lab also explores using novel biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymers to create once-daily or multi-day controlled-release dosage forms.

 

Dr. Eman Ashour

Dr. Ashour's research laboratory focuses on designing, developing, and optimizing small molecule drug delivery systems to increase efficacy, stability, and safety. The lab uses a number of technologies, including hot-melt extrusion, spray drying, nanotechnology, and 3D printing, to improve the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Dr. Ashour`s lab has a predominant focus on cannabis drug delivery, particularly CBD  formulation development. Moreover, Dr. Ashour`s research uses formulation composition and processing methods approaches to address different challenges in drug delivery for pediatric and geriatric populations.

Dr. Seong Jo

Dr. Jo’s research group focuses on the development of synthetic materials that are applicable to drug delivery platforms and biomaterials. Particular research interests include activatable prodrugs, intelligent polymer materials sensitive to pH, reactive oxygen species (ROS), light and temperature, and fluorogenic imaging probes. His group targets their application for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer.

Dr. Mohammed Maniruzzaman

Dr. Maniruzzaman’s lab focuses on pharmaceutical process engineering, continuous manufacturing, and 3D/4D printing of medicines, including biologics and mRNA therapeutics. Additional projects focus on application of AI/ML for drug development and delivery, space medicines, 3D bioprinting, smart medical implants as well as ultra-portable drug delivery devices.

Dr. Soumyajit Majumdar

Dr. Baten Nabi

Dr. Maniruzzaman’s lab focuses on pharmaceutical process engineering, continuous manufacturing, and 3D/4D printing of medicines, including biologics and mRNA therapeutics. Additional projects focus on application of AI/ML for drug development and delivery, space medicines, 3D bioprinting, smart medical implants as well as ultra-portable drug delivery devices.

Dr. Micheal Repka

The research in Dr. Repka’s lab focuses on pharmaceutical process engineering, specifically using hot-melt extrusion to develop various dosage forms such as modified-release tablets/capsules, subdermal implants, as well as dermal and transmucosal films. The lab team has pioneered two twin-screw granulation technologies for continuous manufacturing: Twin Screw-Melt Granulation (TSMG) and a patented Twin-Screw Dry Granulation (TSDG).  Both processes use twin-screw extruders for particle-size engineering.  Additionally, the lab works on enhancing solubility and dissolution using amorphous solid dispersions, creating 3D-printed medicines for fast or sustained release, and developing site-specific drug delivery systems. The lab also explores the use of novel biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymers for creating once-daily or multi-day controlled-release dosage forms.

Dr. Seong Jo

Dr. Jo’s research group focuses on the development of synthetic materials that are applicable to drug delivery platforms and biomaterials. Particular research interests include activatable prodrugs, intelligent polymer materials sensitive to pH, reactive oxygen species (ROS), light and temperature, and fluorogenic imaging probes. His group targets their application for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer.

Dr. Mohammed Maniruzzaman

Dr. Maniruzzaman’s lab focuses on pharmaceutical process engineering, continuous manufacturing, and 3D/4D printing of medicines, including biologics and mRNA therapeutics. Additional projects focus on application of AI/ML for drug development and delivery, space medicines, 3D bioprinting, smart medical implants as well as ultra-portable drug delivery devices.

Dr. Baten Nabi

Dr. Maniruzzaman’s lab focuses on pharmaceutical process engineering, continuous manufacturing, and 3D/4D printing of medicines, including biologics and mRNA therapeutics. Additional projects focus on the application of AI/ML for drug development and delivery, space medicines, 3D bioprinting, smart medical implants as well as ultra-portable drug delivery devices.

Dr. Eman Ashour

Dr. Ashour's research laboratory focuses on designing, developing, and optimizing small molecule drug delivery systems to increase efficacy, stability, and safety. The lab uses a number of technologies, including hot-melt extrusion, spray drying, nanotechnology, and 3D printing, to improve the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Dr. Ashour`s lab has a predominant focus on cannabis drug delivery, particularly CBD  formulation development. Moreover, Dr. Ashour`s research uses formulation composition and processing methods approaches to address different challenges in drug delivery for pediatric and geriatric populations.

Dr. Mohammed Maniruzzaman

Dr. Maniruzzaman’s lab focuses on pharmaceutical process engineering, continuous manufacturing, and 3D/4D printing of medicines, including biologics and mRNA therapeutics. Additional projects focus on application of AI/ML for drug development and delivery, space medicines, 3D bioprinting, smart medical implants as well as ultra-portable drug delivery devices.

Dr. Baten Nabi

Dr. Maniruzzaman’s lab focuses on pharmaceutical process engineering, continuous manufacturing, and 3D/4D printing of medicines, including biologics and mRNA therapeutics. Additional projects focus on the application of AI/ML for drug development and delivery, space medicines, 3D bioprinting, smart medical implants as well as ultra-portable drug delivery devices.

Dr. Eman Ashour

Dr. Ashour's research laboratory focuses on designing, developing, and optimizing small molecule drug delivery systems to increase efficacy, stability, and safety. The lab uses a number of technologies, including hot-melt extrusion, spray drying, nanotechnology, and 3D printing, to improve the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Dr. Ashour`s lab has a predominant focus on cannabis drug delivery, particularly CBD  formulation development. Moreover, Dr. Ashour`s research uses formulation composition and processing methods approaches to address different challenges in drug delivery for pediatric and geriatric populations.

Dr. Seong Jo

Dr. Jo’s research group focuses on the development of synthetic materials that are applicable to drug delivery platforms and biomaterials. Particular research interests include activatable prodrugs, intelligent polymer materials sensitive to pH, reactive oxygen species (ROS), light and temperature, and fluorogenic imaging probes. His group targets their application for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer.

Dr. Mohammed Maniruzzaman

Dr. Maniruzzaman’s lab focuses on pharmaceutical process engineering, continuous manufacturing, and 3D/4D printing of medicines, including biologics and mRNA therapeutics. Additional projects focus on application of AI/ML for drug development and delivery, space medicines, 3D bioprinting, smart medical implants as well as ultra-portable drug delivery devices.

Dr. Soumyajit Majumdar

Dr. Baten Nabi

Dr. Maniruzzaman’s lab focuses on pharmaceutical process engineering, continuous manufacturing, and 3D/4D printing of medicines, including biologics and mRNA therapeutics. Additional projects focus on the application of AI/ML for drug development and delivery, space medicines, 3D bioprinting, smart medical implants as well as ultra-portable drug delivery devices.

Dr. Micheal Repka

The research in Dr. Repka’s lab focuses on pharmaceutical process engineering, specifically using hot-melt extrusion to develop various dosage forms such as modified-release tablets/capsules, subdermal implants, as well as dermal and transmucosal films. The lab team has pioneered two twin-screw granulation technologies for continuous manufacturing: Twin Screw-Melt Granulation (TSMG) and a patented Twin-Screw Dry Granulation (TSDG).  Both processes use twin-screw extruders for particle-size engineering.  Additionally, the lab works on enhancing solubility and dissolution using amorphous solid dispersions, creating 3D-printed medicines for fast or sustained release, and developing site-specific drug delivery systems. The lab also explores the use of novel biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymers for creating once-daily or multi-day controlled-release dosage forms.

Dr. Eman Ashour

Dr. Ashour's research laboratory focuses on designing, developing, and optimizing small molecule drug delivery systems to increase efficacy, stability, and safety. The lab uses a number of technologies, including hot-melt extrusion, spray drying, nanotechnology, and 3D printing, to improve the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Dr. Ashour`s lab has a predominant focus on cannabis drug delivery, particularly CBD  formulation development. Moreover, Dr. Ashour`s research uses formulation composition and processing methods approaches to address different challenges in drug delivery for pediatric and geriatric populations.

Dr. Walt Chambliss

Dr. Chambliss teaches in the professional and graduate programs, focusing on developing safe, effective, and regulatory-compliant pharmaceutical products for oral, topical, and parenteral administration. Before joining the university, he worked in the pharmaceutical industry and helped develop formulations and manufacturing processes for over 300 commercialized drug products. His graduate courses (Formulation Development, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and Regulatory Science) emphasize combining the students’ growing pharmaceutics and drug delivery knowledge with critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address industry-based case studies and assignments.

Dr. Soumyajit Majumdar

Dr. Cory Varner

Dr. Chambliss teaches in the professional and graduate programs, focusing on developing safe, effective, and regulatory-compliant pharmaceutical products for oral, topical, and parenteral administration. Before joining the university, he worked in the pharmaceutical industry and helped develop formulations and manufacturing processes for over 300 commercialized drug products. His graduate courses (Formulation Development, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and Regulatory Science) emphasize combining the students’ growing pharmaceutics and drug delivery knowledge with critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address industry-based case studies and assignments.

OUR Partnerships

scientist conducting an experiment

Pii Center for Pharmaceutical Technology

The faculty and graduate students of the department work closely with the Pii Center on various research projects critical to understanding drugs and pharmaceutical technology.

student working in the lab

Hands-on Course in Tablet Technology

Our Tablet Course is a post-graduate educational program offered by the Pii Center for Pharmaceutical Technology that provides an extensive review of conventional and advanced manufacturing technologies, including hot-melt extrusion, used to develop a variety of novel delivery and continuous manufacturing systems.

headshot of Dr. Yu Zhang

Why discover new delivery systems?

"In our lab, we're using special 3D printing machines to create personalized medicine doses. We also create helpful medical tools like nose supports and stents using a special material we invented called bio-flex. Our main aim is to improve healthcare by improving medicines and using advanced 3D printing methods."

Dr. Yu Catherine Zhang

Senior Research Scientist