DRUG-SPIN · Melt-Spun Amorphous Drug Systems for Enhanced Pharmaceutical Efficacy

Half of the globe’s population takes at least one drug a day. Since 90% of currently developed drugs exhibit poor water solubility, leading to exceeding amounts of drugs being consumed and unprocessed drug ending up in waste water. This project aims to address the challenge of poor water solubility in pharmaceuticals, improving the drug’s efficacy and patient compliance. By converting crystalline drugs into their amorphous forms, the solubility is known to increase by a large factor. However, based on the strategy for to obtain the amorphous form, drugs are more or less stable and crystallize in storage. This project will adapt an established method from materials science, melt-spinning, rapidly quenching molten drugs on a spinning copper wheel to achieve reproducible, high cooling rates and perfectly stabilize the amorphous state.The project has four key objectives. First, a melt-spinning device will be set up for drug quenching. This will involve designing and building the necessary equipment to achieve controlled quenching rates. Next, the project aims to produce amorphous drug particles or films, exploring the relationship between quenching rates and drug stability. The third objective is to characterize the stability and solubility of these amorphous drugs using advanced analytical techniques such as spectroscopy, calorimetry, and diffraction methods. Finally, the solubility and stability of these amorphous drugs will be assessed over an extended period.The project is expected to significantly advance the understanding of amorphous drug formulations, potentially leading to more effective and stable drugs. This research will contribute to reducing pharmaceutical waste and improving patient compliance, aligning with global sustainability goals. Furthermore, the fellowship will enhance my career prospects by providing expertise in pharmaceutical technology, thereby bridging the gap between materials science and life sciences.