Grassiri Brunella

Contacts:

brunella.grassiri@phd.unipi.it

Supervisor(s):

Professor Anna Maria Piras

PhD project Title:

Development and assessment of innovative mucoadhesive functional excipients to overcome biopharmaceutical limitations of mucosal barriers.

Abstract of the PhD project:

Today, the pharmaceutical technology is steeply rising, both improving the effectiveness of actives and supporting the success of novel clinical therapies. The present doctorate project will be devoted to further improve the functional properties of pharmaceutical grade excipients in view of their application in local treatments of mucus protected tissues.
The research activities will focus on the role of mucoadhesive macromolecules on enhancing the bioavailability of both poorly soluble drugs and labile active molecules (i.e. proteins), with special interest on antimicrobial applications. The innovative aspects include: the modulation of mucus-adhesiveness by combining grafted cationic moieties and protected thiolation on macromolecular excipients such as cyclodextrins and chitosan; the use of microwave assisted synthetic approach suitable for scale up applications, and the exploitation of excipient intrinsic antimicrobial properties for a potentiated effect.

Publications link:

Oral communications at conferences:

• “Ionic liquids as solubilizing agents and stabilizers for antimicrobial eye drops containing diacerein” 13th World Meeting on Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Rotterdam (the Netherlands); 28/03/2022 – 31/03/2022.
• “Thiolated 2-methyl-β-cyclodextrin, a mucoadhesive excipient for poorly soluble drugs forming nanoaggregates” International Cyclodextrin Symposium, Messina (Italy); 13/06/2022 – 17/06/2022.
• “Pulmonary administration of Enoximone: From off label administration to new dry powder formulation” 50th ADRITELF PhD School, Trieste (Italy); 13/09/2023 – 15/09/2023.