PhD Study : Enhancing Treatment Adherence: Design of a Smart App Closed Loop Sensor-Actuator Drug Delivery System

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Summary

Background:

It has long been recognised that the management of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and mental health depends heavily on the self-management by the patient and their adherence to prescribed treatment regimens. Unfortunately, non-adherence is a perennial problem and it is generally accepted that a third to one half of medicines are not used as directed. This has obvious implications in terms of wasted resources but also means that patients are failing to receive the maximum benefit from the treatment and/or exacerbating the disease progression.

Patient adherence to a prescribed regimen can be influenced by a wide variety of factors but it has been suggested that technical interventions relating to dosage and delivery mechanism can yield more positive outcomes. In particular, facilitating choice over the route of administration and thereby providing a more patient centred approach has been shown to be effective.

Transdermal drug delivery patches have long held promise as a route through which therapeutic agents could be easily and painlessly delivered but they are not without their limitations. In a great many cases they are limited to low molecular weight lipid soluble drug systems. This is especially problematic for new biologics designed to combat cancer and inflammatory conditions.

Advances in microneedle technologies have sought to counter these issues with the small dimensions of the needles enabling pain free administration of the active pharmaceutical (irrespective of size or polarity). While there has been tremendous growth within this area - almost all rely on passive release of the agent upon penetration of the skin. The combination of a smart patch in which the drug is released in a time dependent and/or dosage controlled manner via direction from the mobile app has been proposed as the next stage in the evolution of patient centric drug administration but considerable technical challenges remain to be addressed in terms of delivery.

Proposed Project:

The successful candidate would build upon recent work conducted by the supervisory team on the preparation of smart patch/microneedle systems [1,2] and seek to extend the system towards a closed loop architecture.

While delivery of a therapeutic via electronic means is the next stage in the evolution of such microdevices, the ability to actively monitor the trough level of the API before enabling the release of the next bolus would push the technology to the forefront of the research area. Ultimately, it would allow for more efficient dosing and hence treatment.

The project would be supported by the Chemistry/Forensic Science School at LJMU. The latter hold appropriate drug licenses for taking the prototype devices forward to real scenarios (ie delivery of fentanyl) and would provide validation of drug release kinetics from the devices.

The work builds upon research outputs in 2019 but also invention disclosures based on the thermo responsive gels.

It is possible to envisage the work leading to further collaborative funding opportunities (EPSRC or Innovate).

Candidate Requirements:

A background in electronics/biomedical engineering is required along with experience in programming.

The project will involve the development of new electro and thermo responsive polymers which can facilitate the controlled release of model drugs and the associated control electronics and software.

The project would be run in conjunction with Liverpool John Moores who possess the expertise in the analysis of the drug and would provide assistance in assessing the release characteristics in model systems.

References;

1. Sens Act B, 2019, 294, 24-31

2. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2019, 11, 39, 35540-35547

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.

  • First Class Honours (1st) Degree
  • Masters at 65%
  • Work experience relevant to the proposed project
  • Publications - peer-reviewed

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

  • Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
  • Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
  • Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Friday 7 February 2020
12:00AM

Interview Date
March 2020

Preferred student start date
September 2020

Applying

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