Pharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics Track
Objective
To provide students with an advanced knowledge base and extensive research skills in the area of creating formulations that optimally control the bioavailability of pharmaceuticals.
The degree offered is the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmaceutical Sciences with an emphasis in Pharmaceutics.
Course of Study
The Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics Track deals with the design and development of pharmaceutical dosage forms.
This involves the study of:
- Factors that govern solubility in aqueous and non-aqueous vehicles
- The development of stability-indicating assays
- The study of the effects of formulation components on physicochemical stability, formulation performance, and therapeutic properties.
- The development of various types of nanocarriers composed of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers and lipids for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents.
- These therapeutic payloads include:
- Small molecular weight drugs from a variety of therapeutic classes,
- Oligonucleotides/genes (e.g. DNA, RNA, siRNA, and miRNA)
- Large molecular weight drugs/biologics (e.g. peptides and proteins).
- These therapeutic payloads include:
Current research is multidisciplinary and involves targeted drug delivery, nanomedicine, and nano-enabled immunoengineering, physical pharmacy, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, FDA/USP performance testing for formulation optimization, and translational medicine.
A dissertation based upon original research is required for the PhD degree.
Students are also required to select a minor field of study.
Acceptable minors include:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
- Physiology
Application Requirements
Individuals with a bachelor's degree in pharmacy, chemistry, engineering or physical or biological science are encouraged to apply.
APPLY VIA UArizona Graduate Admissions
Certain prerequisites may be waived, however, students should have taken:
One Semester:
-
Analytical Chemistry
Two Semesters:
- Calculus
- Life Sciences
- Organic Chemistry
Contact
Jianqin Lu, BPharm, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Director, Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics Track
Assistant Professor, BIO5 Institute
Member, NCI Designated UA Comprehensive Cancer Center
Member, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center
Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics Faculty
Andreia Chignalia
Adjunct Research Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutics & PharmacokineticsAssistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology
Abhijit Date
Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Jianqin Lu
Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical SciencesDirector, Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics Track
Assistant Professor, BIO5 Institute
Member, NCI Designated UA Comprehensive Cancer Center
Member, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center
Kenry, PhD
Assistant Professor
Robin Polt
Professor, Chemistry and BiochemistryProfessor, Pharmacology and Toxicology
BIO5 Institute Professor
Adjunct Faculty, Pharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics
Bo Sun
Assistant Research Professor, Pharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics
