Research Activities
Areas of Competencies
• Synthesis of Surfactants by Interfacial Regio Selectivity and Reactivity .
• Physical Chemistry, Surface and Colloid Science, Emulsion Technology,
* Crystallization Phenomena, Extraction Processes with Nanodomains as Extraction Medium and Solvent. .
• Nutraceuticals - Extraction, Characterization, Solubilization and Bioavailability of Molecules from Natural Sources with Health Benefits.
* Cosmetoceuticals - Solubilisation into 'Nano Domains' for Dermal Applications , 'On-Demend, Slow and Controlled Release for Improved Performance.
* 'On-Demand' and Enhanced and Trageted Delivery of Pharmaceuticals and Bioactives (Insoluble and , biopolymers and Other Polymeric API's)
* Drug Delivery vehicles- Nanosized Self-assembled Liquid (NSSL) vehicles.
* Modified Lyotropic Liquid Crystals (LLC) - Formation, Structure Studies, Solubilization and Transformations of Cubosomes, Hexosomes.
* Novel Liquid Micellar Discontinuous Mesophases- the 'QL Phase'.
* Bioavailability enhancers and other Novel Methods for Transport Across Membranes of Nutraceuticals and Drugs.
* Competitive Adsorption (cholesterol and phytosterols)
* Hydrocolloids Interfacial Reactivities, Gelling Properties and More
* Food Sience and Food Additives
* Physical Properties and Polymorphism of Lipids, Fatty Acids, Fats and Oils,
* PhysicalProperties and Crystallization phenomena in Chocolate, Ice-Cream, Baked Goods, Salad Dressings and more
.
Some Major Activities
• Dermal and trandermal delivery of bioactives (insoluble drugs and nutraceuticals), macromolecules (proteins, DNA and SiRNA).
• Ocular delivery of anti-innplamatory drug throuth eye epithelium
• Transmembrane delivery of large bioactives and proteins from the guts to the blood sream.
• Two step strategy for targeted release to cells and membranes.
• Dendrimers and similar for transcell delivery vehicles solubilized in new liquid delivery vehicles
• Piercing agents for enhanced delivery of bioactives.
• New or modified nanosized self-assembled liquid (NSSL) vehicles by controlling geometries, curvatures, interfacial tensions,
• Cosolubilization of two bioactives within single vehicle – interactions, structural considerations and delivery profiles.
• Specific and regioselective organic (signature flavoring and aroma molecules) and enzymatic (phospholipids, monoglycerides) reactions carried out in novel embedding vehicles ( microemulsions and lyotropic liquid crystals) .
• Nanodroplets as nanoreactors for crystallization processes yielding new polymorphic crystals (drugs, sweeteners, nutraceuticals).
• Solubilization of insoluble active molecules (drugs and nutraceuticals) and use the nanovehicles to transport the guest molecules to food products and via the digestive tracts to the blood stream.
• Competitive solubilization of bioactives at interfaces of microemulsions.
• Stabilization (physically or chemically) of sensitive molecules against oxidation in dispersed systems (i.e. lycopene, lutein, tocopherols, astaxanthin).
• Control the release of active molecules from the core of the dispersed system (microemulsion, microcapsule) to the outer continuous interface.
• Design new emulsifiers and to prepare new products with significant commercial and scientific advantages.
• Modify proteins and hydrocolloids to form nanosized aggregates.
• Prepare emulsified microemulsions (modified double emulsions) for improved solubilization and control the release of entrapped matter.
• Food emulsions and interfacial modifications.
• Nutraceuticals - solubilization and characterization.
• Novel double emulsions(W/O/W) and Emulsified microemulsions (EME).
• Transdermal transport of drugs and dermal penetration of bioactives.
• Transmembrane drug delivery of insoluble drugs.