Hardeep S. Saluja, Ph.D

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Hardeep S. Saluja, Ph.D

Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences PharmD./MBA Dual Degree Program Coordinator

CPP 380

580.774.3727

SCHOLARLY INTERESTS AND RESEARCH AREAS:

Solid dispersion has gained enormous attention in recent years as a way to improve bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. In spite of almost thirty years of research on solid dispersions, their commercial application is limited. The rare occurrence of solid dispersion-based pharmaceutical dosage forms in the clinic are due to problems in scale-up of preparation methods, difficulties in dosage form development and poor and irreproducible physical and chemical stability of drug and matrix. This is because of lack of knowledge of the molecular arrangement and mode of incorporation of hydrophobic drug in the matrix which governs the properties of solid dispersion, facilitates their optimization for a specific application and affects the physical and chemical stability of the incorporated drug It has been observed in most cases that the authors used a specific matrix to accelerate the dissolution of a specific drug in-vitro or to show increased bioavailability but rarely discuss the mechanism involved in the dissolution. A thorough understanding of processes that occur on the molecular level is a prerequisite for rational and more efficient design of solid dispersions. My research interest focuses to investigate the molecular arrangement of drug molecules in matrix and the underpinning mechanism involved in drug dissolution from solid dispersion which in turn affects the overall in vivo oral bioavailability of drug.

• To investigate the fate of drug polymer interactions when exposed to dissolution medium.
• To investigate the effect of different processing method on dissolution rate of drug from solid dispersion formulation.
• To identify new methods for preparing solid dispersion formulation that can be scaled up easily.
• Different aspects of formulations of Novel Drug Delivery System, particularly, Nano- particulate drug delivery system.