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   
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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.