Study level

  • PhD

Faculty/School

Faculty of Health

School of Clinical Sciences

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Centre for Materials Science

Centre for Immunology and Infection Control

Supervisors

Associate Professor Nazrul Islam
Position
Associate Professor
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Health

Overview

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are one of the fatal diseases of the lungs that have severe impacts on public health especially the Indigenous people. The currently available antibiotics administered orally for the treatment of LRTIs need high doses with frequent administration and cause dose-related adverse effects.

To overcome this problem, we will investigate the development of antibiotic-loaded polymer nanoparticles (NPs) for potential pulmonary delivery from dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations. This study will address the release profile of the antibiotic form NPs and the outcomes will help get a better understanding of the antibacterial effects at a very low drug dose. This is going to be the very first study in this area of research and the generated data will help get the proof of concept of this proposal.

Research activities

You're expected to:

  • produce antibiotic loaded polymeric NPs and their characterization
  • study the release of antibiotic in in-vitro lung fluid
  • study the antibacterial and antibiofilm effect of the prepared formulation.

You'll get appropriate training for lab experiments under the supervision of the principal supervisor. Additionally, a PhD student/ postdoctoral researcher will help you complete all laboratory experiments.

Outcomes

This study will investigate the release profile of antibiotic from the NPs and the outcomes will help get a better understanding of the antibacterial effects at a very low dose of drug.

Skills and experience

We'd prefer applicants with a background in:

  • pharmacy
  • biology
  • biomedical science
  • microbiology
  • chemistry.

Scholarships

You may be eligible to apply for a research scholarship.

Explore our research scholarships

Keywords

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.