DEPMAB · Developing expertise in pharmaceutical materials and biomaterials
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2006-01-02 → 2010-01-01
- EU contribution
- €526,872
- Participants
- 3
- Scheme
- TOK
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - DEPMAB (Developing Expertise in Pharmaceutical Materials and Biomaterials)
The project has looked at three aspects of pharmaceutical materials: crystal engineering (Project 1), bio-formulation (Project 2) and pharmaceutical materials (Project 3). Project 1 examined the solid state properties of organic compounds, which are determined by the relative orientation of individual molecules in the overall crystalline structure. This is particularly important with pharmaceutical compounds as it impacts on their bioavailability. This research focused on the design and synthesis of organo-sulfur compounds with the objective of enhancing our understanding of the solid state properties. A key hydrogen bonding interaction was identified which provides a robust interaction in the solid state across a wide range of compounds. Project 2 sought to enhance biopharmaceutical expertise in the area of biopharmaceutical production, handling and formulation within the School of Pharmacy, University College Cork. Capability to produce these biopharmaceuticals in-house has substantially increased our capacity to study the impact of excipients and processing steps on their physical, chemical and bioactivity stability. The purpose of this research project was to prepare proteins with increased physical stability (reduced tendency to aggregate in solution prior to injection). This work introduced new techniques and expertise to the School of Pharmacy; cloning expression constructs, protein expression by bacterial cells, folding and purification of protein. Project 3 focused on the production of pharmaceutical particles, generally crystalline or amorphous solids, under unfavourable conditions. Three problem cases have been examined: a model pharmaceutical, a biotransformation product, and a process which gives multiple crystal forms. Crystallisation of the model pharmaceutical was found to be severely inhibited by process impurities. The biotransformation product was converted into a manageable crystalline solid by further reaction and crystallization. The process giving multiple forms was directed to the required form using rationally designed additives. Overall DEPMAB has allowed UCC to develop pharmaceutical materials as a significant research area. The success of the transfer of knowledge is shown by numbers of researchers working in UCC in this area, substanial additional research funding, infrastructure development and interactions with many pharmaceutical companies. The knowledge transferred into UCC by the DEPMAB fellows has been the main driver of these developments.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The University College Cork (UCC) hinterland is the location for the largest cluster of European pharmaceutical manufacturing, employing over 20,000 people and contributing exports of ¿34 billion annually. This position of European commercial strength is subject to intense outside competition, with governments offering favourable taxation regimes to companies establishing pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in their countries.To maintain competitiveness, this cluster of European pharmaceutical manufacturing is broadening its operations to include process development RandD, formulation, product finishing and biotechnology-based operations. Achieving this diversification requires an extension of the skills and competencies of the workforce to include the physical characterisation and processing of pharmaceutical materials and bio-materials. In recognition of this strategically vital research and training need, UCC has established focused research programmes in- pharmaceutical crystal engineering,- functional pharmaceutical materials, and- bio-molecular formulation and bio-pharmaceutics.Under the present Transfer of Knowledge proposal, three experienced researchers would be recruited for two years each, one to each programme, to transfer essential skills and competencies on the physical characterisation and processing of pharmaceutical materials and bio-materials. In addition, two experienced researchers from UCC would be seconded for four months to the Weizmann Institute, Israel; and one would be seconded for six months to the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands.During the return phase, these researchers would transfer knowledge on crystal nucleation and biomolecule-crystal interactions (from the Weizmann Institute) and on formulation of biomolecules (from the University of Utrecht).
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK · CORKCoordinatorIreland
- LEIDEN UNIVERSITY · LEIDENNetherlands
- WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE · REHOVOTIsrael
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union