Novel formulation principles for macromolecular drugs based on coacervates and other polyelectrolyte stabilized phases and complexes

Research scientist: Giorgia Preti, PhD student
Principal investigator: Professor Per Hansson, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University

Scientific and industrial context. Injection into the tissue under the skin is an attractive administration route for many biomolecular drugs available as a result of recent biotechnological progress. The development of drug formulations for this route is challenged by the difficulty to predict the fate of drug formulations after injection due to the complexity of the subcutaneous (SC) environment, the large variability between patients and biomolecular drug properties.

Aim. To investigate the release of macromolecular drugs from liquid coacervates and polyelectrolyte complexes, and to understand the mechanisms governing their uptake by and transport through the subcutaneous tissue extracellular matrix (ECM).

Outcome. To increase our knowledge of the release of macromolecular drugs and their their uptake by and transport through the subcutaneous tissue extracellular matrix (ECM).