Pharmaceutical Science: Fully Funded MSc Studentship in Exploring Zeolite Particles as a Carrier Vehicle in Drug Formulation

The community prevalence of dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) is between 2% to 20% around the world, particularly in the geriatric and paediatric populations. Subsequently, patients do not take their medications as prescribed, resulting in high incidences of non-compliance and suboptimal therapy. 

One strategy to address this problem involves the formulation of orally disintegrating tablets which dissolve in the mouth, providing a more patient-friendly alternative. Orally disintegrating tablets have the advantages of both solid dosage forms, such as accurate dosing and easy handling by patients, and liquid formulations, such as easy administration and minimal risk of choking. One significant limitation, however, is that many active pharmaceutical ingredients are highly unpalatable and, after a tablet dissolves, the active ingredient remains in the mouth providing an unpleasant taste, even with sweeteners. 

This project aims to adsorb a chosen drug into the pores of a carrier molecule, such as a zeolite, which is subsequently formulated into the final orally disintegrating tablet. The zeolite acts as a taste-masking agents which “locks” the drug away from the taste buds whilst maintaining medicinally useful drug release rates once swallowed. The project will then investigate drug release from the stable zeolite-drug complexes, subsequently from their formulation into tablets, which contain numerous excipients in the tablet matrix. 

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