Ionic Innovations: Next-Generation Drug Delivery
Loughborough UniversityLoughborough, United Kingdom
Course overview
Ionic liquids (ILs) and Deep Eutectic solvents (DES) have recently been used as drug delivery vectors with formulations that can allow effective transdermal action, with high potency to enhance skin permeation and low tendency to induce skin irritation (doi: 10.1002/adfm.202004257), with the advantages of non-invasiveness, ease of application and termination, and avoidance of first-pass metabolism encountered by oral delivery. Other formulations enable targeted delivery, through piggy-backing on existing biological systems (doi: 10.1002/advs.202305484). However, why some ionic solvents are appropriate for drug delivery and others are not is not yet fully understood.
As part of our team, you will use computational chemistry, including molecular dynamics and chemometrics techniques, to more broadly understand the structuring within medically-relevant ionic solvents, and how this structuring relates to macroscopic properties relating to medicines stability and efficacy. You will establish design rules for the next generation of drug-delivery agents, as part of a broader collaboration with the University of Mississippi. As the project is multidisciplinary, training will be provided as required.
You will also have a range of opportunities to gain valuable transferrable skills (including through our doctoral college), network with international and industry partners, and be well-set up for a role in either industry, data science or academia at the end of the programme. 94% of Loughborough’s research impact is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. REF 2021
Key highlights
- Investigates ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents as drug delivery vectors
- Uses molecular dynamics and chemometrics to study ionic solvent structuring
- Aims to establish design rules for next-generation drug-delivery agents
- Part of a broader collaboration with the University of Mississippi
- Multidisciplinary project with training provided as required
- Networking with international and industry partners plus doctoral college skills training
Entry requirements
- Degree: 2:1 — or above
Scholarships
Alumni Bursary
10% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
Up to 10% of feesAlumni Discount
UK students: £1,500 tuition fee discount for one academic year. International students: £3,000 tuition fee discount for one academic year.
Care Leaver's Scholarship
Excellence Scholarships
UK students: £3,000 off tuition fees; International students: £6,000 off tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
International Sports Student Postgraduate Bursary
Our International Sports Student Postgraduate Bursary offers a £12,000 tuition fee discount (set against the tuition fees of your chosen postgraduate taught programme ONLY).
Up to £12,000London 10th Anniversary Award
£5,000 off tuition fees.
Up to £5,000Loughborough Business School Scholarship
£1,500 (UK students) and £3,000 (international students) off tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
MBA Progress with Purpose Scholarship
50% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
Up to 50% of feesQatari Ghanim Al-Muftah Excellence Scholarship
Careers this course leads to
- Computational chemist
- Pharmaceutical formulation scientist
- Drug delivery research scientist
- Data scientist
- Postdoctoral research associate
- University lecturer
Cost of study
UK/Home: £5,238 | International: £29,500
Admission
Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Loughborough University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.
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