PhD Study : A polymersomal based eye-drop formation to enhance delivery of drug payloads to the posterior of the eye.

Apply and key information  

This project is funded by:

    • Macular Society

Summary

Intravitreal Injections (IVIs) are extremely effective for drug delivery, they can deliver large amounts of drug directly into the eye with minimal effect of the medications elsewhere in the body. However, the injections require regular visits to a health care provider and involves the penetration of a hypodermic needle (usually 30 gauge (0.3112 mm diameter)) directly into the eyeball. As well as being unpleasant for the patient, it needs a trained healthcare professional to deliver and therefore requires significant cost and time as well as some risks associated with the IVI, including permanent vision loss.

In order to improve convenience for patients, and reduce the risks and cost of IVIs, this proposal aims to use the latest nanotechnologies to provide an alternative delivery method for drug delivery to the back of the eye. This new delivery system will be formulated into an eye drop to allow for patient self-administration.

The research proposed will involve the use of polymers (large, regularly repeating molecules) to create nanosized vehicles, (some ten thousand times smaller than the hypodermic needle diameter), termed polymersomes. Polymersomes (Ps) will be used as a vehicle to encapsulate the medications and delivery them across the eye, where they will be released from the Ps. To achieve this, we will first prepare and characterise the polymers in our lab, before shaping them into the Ps under specific conditions. How efficient the Ps is at drug encapsulation and release will be determined using standard analytical methods. To improve upon the delivery to the eye, several strategies will be used. The applicants have demonstrated that the incorporation of a positive charge onto the Ps surface, can improve uptake with the negatively charged eye cell surface, in addition by increasing the thickness of the eye drop, this increases contact time with the eyeball and therefore allow more drug to pass through. The system will be tested initially in eye cells grown in the lab, with only the top performing Ps brought forward for testing on mice, this will create the pre-clinical data required for any future human studies.

The potential benefit for patients with macular disease is huge and, if successful, could replace the IVIs completely. The nature of the Ps renders it adaptable to almost every disease medication. For patients suffering from long term chronic illnesses this could lead to an enhanced quality of life.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

  • Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

  • Masters at 65%
  • Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES
  • Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
  • Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
  • Work experience relevant to the proposed project
  • Publications - peer-reviewed
  • Experience of presentation of research findings
  • A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
  • Relevant professional qualification and/or a Degree in a Health or Health related area

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

  • Macular Society

This scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home/EU rate and a maintenance allowance of £15,009 per annum for three years.

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Friday 19 July 2019
12:00AM

Interview Date
Late July, early August

Preferred student start date
01 September 2019

Applying

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Contact supervisor

Professor Bridgeen Callan

Other supervisors