Non-biological complex drugs (NBCDs) are medical products that cannot be defined nor fully identified as traditional small-molecule drugs. NBCDs consist of different components that form a complex hybrid structure that challenges existing pharmaceutical methods of analysis. Examples include iron-carbohydrate complexes for treatment of iron-deficient anemia and liposomal chemotherapy delivery systems. The complex nature of NBCDs means that small variations in the manufacturing process can substantially alter the composition, efficacy, and safety of final products. This in turn poses a challenge for the development of regulatory guidelines and the evaluation of equivalency for generic products (similars). This opportunity addresses the need for reliable and accurate measurements to establish the critical physical and chemical characteristics of NBCDs containing nanoscale materials. Research focuses on development of asymmetrical-flow field-flow fractionation methods combined with multi-detector analysis. Multiple state-of-the-art A4F systems are available to support this research, with on-line UV-Vis diode array detectors, differential refractometry, fluorescence, multi-angle light scattering, quasi-elastic light scattering and ICP-MS. The project involves external collaborations, offering the opportunity to work with multiple researchers across US-based and international institutes and government agencies.

Bridging communities in the field of nanomedicine, Halamoda-Kenzaoui et al., Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 106 (2019) 187–196 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.04.011]

Surface Modification of Cisplatin-Complexed Gold Nanoparticles and Its Influence on Colloidal Stability, Drug Loading, and Drug Release, Tan et al., Langmuir 34 (2018) 154−163 [https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b02354]

Orthogonal analysis of functional gold nanoparticles for biomedical applications, Tsai et al., Anal Bioanal Chem 407 (2015) 8411-8422 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-015-9011-9]

key words

Metrology; Nanomaterial; Nanoparticle; Drug; Characterization; Field flow fractionation; Liposome; Iron-carbohydrate; Non-biological complex drug; Nanomedicine

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants