Pharmaceutical Research Group

• Dr Mohammad Najlah
• Dr Basel Arafat
• Dr Ibrahim Tolaymat
• Dr Matt Webster

• Bárbara Machado
• Tony Tiller

• KTP Associate - Formulation Scientist - vacant
• Formulation Scientist Research Fellow - vacant

• Ibrahim Dumbuya

• Dr Ammar Said Sulimann
• Dr Basmah Othman

• Dr Omar Abo Abed
• Dr Marwa Naser

• Development of Nano-Enabled Drug Carriers to Overcome Pan-Chemoresistance of Cancer Stem(-like) Cells.
  In this project, we aim to:
  a) design, characterise and biologically evaluate specific delivery systems of repurposed drugs for anti-cancer treatment.
  b) enhance water solubility of poorly soluble drugs using several pharmaceutical techniques, specifically polymer complexations and particle engineering.
• Using laser skin resurfacing to improve the permeability of drugs across the skin. This project involves randomized clinical trials.
• Engineering novel nanomaterials, polymeric prodrugs/conjugates and polymeric nano-particulates for drug delivery applications such as enhancing water solubility or/and overcoming the P-glycoprotein drug efflux transporter.
• Synthesis of small molecules with anticipated biological activity, particularly with anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects.
• Using pharmaceutical formulation techniques to enhance antifungal and permeability properties of problematic antifungal agents.
• Repurposing non-antibiotic drugs for the treatment of antibiotic resistant infections.
• Pharmaceutical applications of 3D printing.
• Design and development of pharmaceutical carriers for pulmonary drug delivery.
• Detection of counterfeit medications.

• 2021-2023: Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Detoxpeople Ltd, funded by Innovate UK/UK Research and Innovation. Project to embed the development, analysis and knowledge of liposomal formulation - both dry and liquid - facilitating future product design and the adoption of a scaled-up manufacturing process.
• 2020-2021: Lipolife Research Contract, funded by Lipolife. Development of non-sweetened and stable oral liposomal formulation.
• Sep 2016-Jan 2021: National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) 9th Cycle, funded by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). Development of surfactant-based delivery systems for the treatment of breast cancer.

• Dionex Ultimate 3000 UHPLC
• Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC 214 Polyma)
• Thermogravimetric analysis (TG 209 F3 Tarsus)
• Nano DeBEE Laboratory Homogenizer
• Digital surface tensiometer mod. TSD
• Buchi Rotavapors R-210
• Lyotrap Freeze dryer
• Anton Paar Rheometer MCR 102
• Anton Paar Rolling-ball viscometer Lovis 2000 M
• Jenway 6280 Fluorimeter
• Zetasizer Nano ZS
• Nicolet iS5 FTIR Spectrometer
• Buchi Mini Spray Dryer B290 with Inert Loop 295 and Dehumidifier B296
• Sorvall MTX 150 Micro-Ultracentrifuge
• Probe Sonicator
• Breath Simulator BRS 2000
• Next Generation Impactor (NGI)
• NGI Cooler
• Malvern Spraytec
• Climate chamber ICH110L
• Gamlen Tableting GTP1
• Soxtec 8000 Extraction Unit
• Multiskan Reader
• Biospectrum 615 Imaging System
• ABX Pentra 400
• ABX Pentra XL80

Machado, B., Frame, J., Zhang, J., Najlah, M., 2020. Comparative Study on the Outcome of Periorbital Wrinkles Treated with Laser-Assisted Delivery of Vitamin C or Vitamin C Plus Growth Factors: A Randomized, Double-blind, Clinical Trial. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, in press. doi: 10.1007/s00266-020-02035

Khan, I., Yousaf, S., Najlah, M., Ahmed, W., Elhissi, A. 2020. Proliposome powder or tablets for generating inhalable liposomes using a medical nebulizer. Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation, pp. 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s40005-020-00495-8

Abdallah, B., Elhissi, A., Ahmed, W., Najlah, M. Carbon Nanotubes Drug Delivery System for Cancer Treatment. In: Ahmed, W., et al, Eds. 2020. Advances in Medical and Surgical Engineering. Elsevier Science & Technology, Academic Press: 2020. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819712-7.00016-4pp

Said Suliman, A., Tom R., Palmer, K., Tolaymat, I., Younes, H., Arafat, B., Elhissi, M. A., Najlah, M. 2020. Physicochemical Characterisation and Stability Evaluation of Ciprofloxacin-Loaded Parenteral Nutrition Nanoemulsions. Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, pp. 1-26. doi: 10.1080/10837450.2020.1720237 (IF 2.347)

Khudair, N,. Agouni, A., Elrayess, M., Najlah, M., Younes, H., Elhissi, A. 2020. Letrozole-loaded nonionic surfactant vesicles prepared via a slurry-based proniosome technology: Formulation development and characterization. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. doi: 10.1016/j.jddst.2020.101721 (IF 2.734)

Rycerz, K, Stepien, K. A.,Czapiewska, M., Arafat, B. T., 2019. Embedded 3D Printing of Novel Bespoke Soft Dosage Form Concept for Pediatrics. Pharmaceutics, 26;11(12), p. 630. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11120630

Said, R., Arafat, B. T., Mallah, E., 2019. An LC-MS/MS method for determination of triple drugs combination of valsartan, amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide in human plasma for bioequivalence study, Current Pharmaceutical Analysis. doi: 10.2174/1573412916666191111125807

Najlah, M., Said Suliman, A., Tolaymat, I., Kurusamy, S., Kannappan, V., Elhissi, M. A., Wang, W., 2019. Development of Injectable PEGylated Liposome Encapsulating Disulfiram for Colorectal Cancer Treatment. Pharmaceutics, 11(11), pp. 610-626. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11110610 (IF 4.773)

Omar, H., Hussein, N., Ferraz, A., Najlah, M., Ahmed, W., Taylor, M. T., Elhissi M. A., 2018. Spray-dried proliposome microparticles for high-performance aerosol delivery using a monodose powder inhaler. AAPS PharmSciTech. doi: 10.1208/s12249-018-1058-4 (IF 2.608)

Arafat, B., Qinna, N., Cieszynska, M., Forbes, R. T., Alhnan, M. A., 2018. Tailored on demand anti-coagulant dosing: an in vitro and in vivo evaluation of 3D printed purpose-designed oral dosage forms. Eur J Pharm Biopharm, pii: S0939-6411(17)31106-2.

Arafat, B., Wojsz, M., Isreb, A., Forbes, R. T., Isreb, M., Ahmed, W., Arafat, T., Alhnan, M. A., 2018. Tablet fragmentation without a disintegrant: A novel design approach for accelerating disintegration and drug release from 3D printed cellulosic tablets. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2018 Jun 15;118, pp. 191-199.

Sherer, C., Prabhu, S., Adams, D., Hayes, J., Rowther, F., Tolaymat, I., Warr, T., Snape, T. J., 2018. Towards identifying potent new hits for glioblastoma. MedChemComm, 9(11), pp. 1850-1861. doi: 10.1039/C8MD00436F

Najlah, M., Freeman, S., Khoder, M., Attwood, D., D’Emanuele, A., 2017. In vitro evaluation of the third generation PAMAM dendrimer conjugates. Molecules, 22(10), p. 1661. doi: 10.3390/molecules22101661

Sherer, C., Tolaymat, I., Rowther, F., Warr, T., Snape, T. J., 2017. Preliminary SAR on indole-3-carbinol and related fragments reveals a novel anticancer lead compound against resistant glioblastoma cells. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, 27(7), pp. 1561-1565. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.02.033

Najlah, M., Ahmed, Z., Iqbal, M., Wang, Z., Tawari, P., Wang, W., McConville, C., 2017. Development and characterisation of disulfiram-loaded PLGA nanoparticles for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 112, pp. 224-233. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2016.11.032

Najlah, M., Jain, M., Wan K. W., Ahmed, W., Phoenix A. D., Taylor, K. M. G., Elhissi, A., 2016. Ethanol-based proliposome delivery systems of paclitaxel for in vitro application against brain cancer cells. Journal of Liposome Research, 14, pp. 1-12. doi: 10.1080/08982104.2016.1259628

Najlah, M., Kadam A., Wan, K. W., Ahmed, W., Taylor K. M. G., Elhissi, A., 2016. Novel paclitaxel formulations solubilized by lipid nanoemulsions for brain tumour therapy. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 506(1-2), pp. 102-109. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.04.027

Alhnan, M. A., Okwuosa, T. C., Sadia, M., Wan, K. .W., Ahmed, W., Arafat, B., 2016. Emergence of 3D Printed Dosage Forms: Opportunities and Challenges. Pharm Res., 33(8), pp. 1817-32.

Tawari, P., Wang, Z., Najlah, M., Tsang, C., Kannappan, V., Liu, P., Mcconville, C., Armesilla, A., Wang, W., 2015. The cytotoxic mechanisms of Disulfiram and copper(II) in cancer cells. Toxicology Research, 4, pp. 1439-1442. doi: 10.1039/C5TX00210A

Najlah, M., Hidayat, K., Mwesigwa, E., Ahmed, W., Al-Obaidi, K., Elhissi A. M. A., 2015. A facile approach to manufacturing non-ionic surfactant nanodipsersions using proniosome technology and high-pressure homogenization. Journal of Liposome Research, 25(1), pp. 32-37. doi: 10.3109/08982104.2014.924140

Najlah, M., Parveen, I., Faheem, A., Ahmed, W., Phoenix A. D., Kevin Taylor M.G., Elhissi, A., 2014. The effects of suspensions particle size on the performance of vibrating-mesh, air-jet and ultrasonic nebulizers. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 461(1), pp. 234-241. doi: /10.1016/j.ijpharm.2013.11.022