Nyhetsbrev 04/2022 Newsletter |
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Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Åbo Akademi |
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I det här nyhetsbrevet får du bland annat läsa om den nya kursen i klinisk farmaci och sjukhusfarmaci, om doktorsdisputationen som ägde rum i februari samt ett urval av det senaste på forskningsfronten. Kom ihåg att delta i vår SLOGO-tävling! In this newsletter, you will read about the new course in clinical pharmacy and hospital pharmacy, about the doctoral dissertation in February and some selected research news. Remember to participate in our SLOGO competition! Trevlig läsning! | Happy Reading! |
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Innehåll | Table of Contents |
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- Undervisningsnytt
- Doktorsdisputation
- Nya publikationer
- Annat nytt
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- Student news
- Doctoral Dissertation
- New publications
- Other news
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Undervisningsnytt | Student news |
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Färska ansökningssiffror. I vår sökte 112 personer till farmaceututbildningen vid ÅA, 110 personer sökte till den 3+2-åriga provisorsutbildningen och 51 personer till den 2-åriga provisorsutbildningen. Ifjol var motsvarande siffror 115, 127 och 70. Hösten 2022 erbjuder ÅA 30 platser på farmaceututbildningen, 5 platser på 3+2-åriga provisorsutbildningen och 15 platser på den 2-åriga provisorsutbildningen. |
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Application numbers. This spring, the BSc programme in pharmacy at ÅAU had 112 applicants, the 3+2 year MSc programme 110 applicants, and the 2 year MSc programme 51 applicants. Last year, the corresponding numbers were 115, 127 and 70. In the fall of 2022, ÅAU offers 30 BSc positions, 5 positions in the 3+2 programme and 15 positions in the 2 year programme. |
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Ny kurs i klinisk farmaci och sjukhusfarmaci. I samarbete med sjukhusapoteken på ÅUCS och VCS kommer en kurs i klinisk farmaci och sjukhusfarmaci (5 sp) att ordnas från och med hösten 2022. I kursen ingår bl.a. jobbskuggning av en farmaceut eller provisor på sjukhusapoteket. Avlagd apotekspraktik är krav för deltagande i kursen som startar i november. |
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New course in clinical pharmacy and hospital pharmacy. In collaboration with the hospital pharmacies at TYKS and VKS, a new course in clinical pharmacy and hospital pharmacy (in Swedish) will be arranged in the fall. A completed 6 month pharmacy internship is a prerequisite for enrolling in the course, which starts in november. |
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Ny kurs i fysiologiskt-baserad farmakokinetisk (PBPK) modellering. I höst kommer även en kort introduktionskurs på 1 sp i PBPK-modellering att ges. PBPK är ett verktyg som används i stor utsträckning i den moderna läkemedelsutvecklingen för att prediktera läkemedelskoncentrationer och farmakokinetik i virtuella människor. |
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New course in physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling. A short introductory course (1 cr) in PBPK modelling will also be arranged in the fall. PBPK is a tool that is widely used in modern drug development to predict drug concentrations and pharmacokinetics in virtual humans. |
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Doktorsdisputation | Doctoral Dissertation |
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Dr Chang Liu disputerade den 25 februari med avhandlingen "Stimuli-Responsive Porous Nanomaterials for Controlled Drug Delivery and Gene Therapy". Läs pressmeddelandet. |
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Dr Chang Liu defended his Doctoral Thesis "Stimuli-Responsive Porous Nanomaterials for Controlled Drug Delivery and Gene Therapy" on February 25th. Read more below. |
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Dr Chang Liu received his Ph.D. degree in Prof. Hongbo Zhang’s group in February. During his doctoral studies, Dr Liu constructed several stimuli-responsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) based nano-drug delivery carriers to achieve controlled release of antitumor drugs, immunosuppressive agents and bioactive macromolecules by exploiting the features of the tumor microenvironment and the stimulation of external light sources, achieving enhanced therapeutic effects in tumors, suppression of rejection after kidney transplantation, and efficiency of gene editing, paving the way for the application of porous materials in the biomedical field. The thesis is available in Doria. Dr Liu continues as a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Zhang’s Lab, his current research interests are in the design of functional nanomaterials, particularly MOFs-based biomimetic mineralized composites and their theranostic applications. Dr Liu can be reached at chang.liu@abo.fi. |
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Nya publikationer | New publications |
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Molecular Dynamics Prediction Verified by Experimental Evaluation of the Solubility of Different Drugs in Poly(decalactone) for the Fabrication of Polymeric Nanoemulsions. Pyrhönen et al. Adv. NanoBiomed Res. 2022,2, 2100072 (https://doi.org/10.1002/anbr.202100072) |
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I denna studie kombinerade vi expertisen från två av våra forskargrupper för att ta oss an ett aktuellt intresseområde "computational pharmaceutics” (fri översättning: datorstödd galenik). Här försökte vi oss på detta genom att använda molekylära dynamiksimuleringar (MDS) för att förutspå olika läkemedels löslighet i bärarpolymeren; för att å sin sida förutsäga läkemedelsladdnings-kapaciteten hos läkemedelsbärarsystemet. Vi verifierade MDS-resultaten experimentellt genom att formulera nanoemulsioner och miceller med sju olika hydrofoba läkemedelsmolekyler. Denna typ av beräkningsstödd läkemedelsscreening skulle kunna utgöra en effektiv strategi för att formulera nanoemulsioner för läkemedelsadministration. Studien utgör provisors-studerande Jasmin Pyrhönens pro graduprojekt. |
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In this study, we have combined the expertise of a couple of our research groups to take on a current area of interest “computational pharmaceutics”. Here, we attempted this approach by utilizing molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) to assess polymer-drug miscibility in order to predict drug loading capacity of the carrier polymer. The MDS results are experimentally verified by formulating nanoemulsions and micelles with seven different hydrophobic drug molecules. This MDS facilitated drug screening could constitute an efficient strategy in designing nanoemulsions for drug delivery. This study also constitutes the MSc thesis project of MSc(Pharm.) student Jasmin Pyrhönen. |
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Förekomsten av kronisk njursjukdom ökar globalt på grund av riskfaktorer såsom högre ålder bland befolkningen och den ökande prevalensen av diabetes och övervikt. Njurtransplantation är den mest effektiva behandlingen för njursjukdom i sent stadium. Nya immunosuppressiva läkemedel har utvecklats, men deras terapeutiska effekter är begränsade. I denna studie rapporterar vi om ett termiskt responsivt nanosystem som kan användas för att förbättra behandlingen efter njurtransplantation och minska biverkningarna. The world's population with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing due to high-risk factors such as global aging, and the increasing prevalence of diabetes and obesity. Kidney transplantation is the most effective treatment for end-stage renal disease. Novel immunosuppressive agents have been developed, but their therapeutic effects are limited. |
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In this paper, we report on a thermally responsive nanosystem that can been used to improve renal transplantation treatment and reduce adverse reactions. We designed a novel nanomaterial, water-soluble CuS nanoparticles were used as the core of the nanosystems to achieve the NIR response. A mesoporous silicon dioxide nano shell with controllable thickness and pore diameter was introduced onto the surface of CuS as a drug reservoir. A heat-sensitive polymer poly (N- isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid, PNcM) was coated on the drug carrier CuS@MSN(CuS@MSN@PNcM, abbreviated as NP) by electrostatic nano-precipitation, for the control of drug release. Then, the surface of NP was functionalized by C4d antibody (C4dAb) to form the final nanocomposite NP-C4dAb. This design allows targeted inflammation suppression at the allogeneic kidney site, greatly improving the outcome of the renal transplantation treatment and reducing the side effects of allogeneic rejection. |
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Interactions between polymeric nanoparticles and different buffers as investigated by zeta potential measurements and molecular dynamics simulations. Inam et al. View. 2022 (https://doi.org/10.1002/VIW.20210009) |
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Zeta potential is an essential surface parameter for nanoparticle characterization and is determined at the interface between the loosely bound ions (diffuse reflective layer) on the nanoparticle surface and the free ions in solution. It is known that the ion concentration and pH of the solution affect the composition of the diffusion layer and zeta potential accordingly. However, the buffer can also change the dynamic properties of nanoparticles through specific molecular interactions, which is a problem to be studied. In this paper, we used a simple experimental method to measure the zeta potential of common polymer nanoparticle systems at different buffer concentrations, pH, and nanoparticle-buffer ratio. We observed that the zwitterionic/cationic buffer molecules significantly interfere with the kinetic properties of structurally diverse polymer nanoparticles by causing zeta potential inhibition or even inversion during the experimental process. The molecular dynamics (MD) further simulated by computer was used to study the molecular interactions between nanoparticles and other complex molecules. |
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Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer with poor prognosis and high recurrence and metastasis rate. The therapeutic effect of anticancer drugs is not obvious, and it is accompanied by inevitable systemic toxicity. Therefore, TNBC still lacks effective therapeutic drugs, and it is urgent to develop a new nano drug delivery system. In this paper, we developed a novel photothermal and GSH-sensitive nanoparticle that employs cancer cell camouflage technology for targeted TNBC therapy. Au NRs was embedded into Au@MSN in mesoporous silicon, and the porous shell structure formed by MSN realized high drug loading capacity, which not only could load the hydrophilic drug doxorubicin but also could couple the paclitaxel prodrug to the surface of MSN. The coating cell membrane derived from tumor cells can protect the drugs from premature release and greatly improve tumor targeting efficiency. Au@PTXSS-MSN/DOX@CM NPs has been demonstrated to have good tumor cell targeting and synergistic antitumor effects at the cellular level. |
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Engineered neutrophil-derived exosome-like vesicles for targeted cancer therapy. Zhang et al. Science Advances. 2022 (10.1126/sciadv.abj8207) |
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Neutrophils are the most abundant innate immune cells in the human circulation. However, their derived exosomes have rarely been studied for tumor therapy. In this study, we isolated exosomes from peripheral blood neutrophils from healthy donors and demonstrated that N-Ex exerted cytotoxicity on tumor cells by activating apoptotic signaling pathways. We also developed a rapid magnetic separation method that separates exosomes from neutrophils and confers dual tumor targeting (biological and magnetic) to N-Ex, greatly enhancing its therapeutic efficacy. In addition, NNV was manufactured at a high yield as a new delivery vehicle for chemotherapeutic drugs. We demonstrated that using this strategy, the SPION-modified, DOX-loaded NNV achieved a dual therapeutic effect (drug and NNV) that almost completely eliminated tumor growth in mice. These findings not only prove the role of exosomes in the antineoplastic activity of neutrophils, but also provide natural and bionic N-Ex as a new nano platform for cancer therapeutic agent and drug delivery. |
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In this study, we reported a series of amphiphilic gradient copolymers (2- oxazolines) with different chain lengths were investigated for aqueous self-assembly and hydrophobic drug encapsulation and compared with diblock copolymer analogues. The potential of the prepared copolymer as a drug delivery system was thoroughly examined using the model drug curcumin. Studies have shown that block copolymerization (2- oxazoline) is a simple one-step synthesis, and the gradient copolymer nanoparticles have the potential to substitute block copolymers for the construction of novel drug delivery systems. |
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Delta i vår SLOGO-tävling! PSL ordnar en slogan- och logo-tävling, där alla kan delta. Du kan delta i endast en av tävlingarna eller i båda två, och du kan skicka in så många bidrag du vill. Logon får gärna innehålla gröna färger och bör matcha PSL:s hemsida. Priset består av 4 biobiljetter till Finnkino. Bidrag skickas till anne.filppula@abo.fi senast den 25 april. Participate in our SLOGO competition! PSL arranges a slogan and logo compeition, that is open for everyone. You may participate in just either one or in both competitions, and you may send in as many suggestions as you wish. Logo colors should preferably be in green and match the PSL homepage. The prize consists of 4 cinema tickets to Finnkino. Send in your contribution to anne.filppula@abo.fi by April 25. |
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Samarbete mellan PSL och universitet i Indien. Läs mera nedan (på engelska). |
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Collaboration between PSL and India. Parasitic diseases in the tropical world range from trypanosomiasis to leishmaniasis. Many of the clinical forms are fatal if untreated. No effective vaccine is available for any of these diseases. The treatment of those is solely dependent on chemotherapy, which is always threatened due to the development of drug resistance in the parasites. To investigate putative novel targets against the pathogens causing these diseases, our FICORE project is aiming at determining the structures of parasitic nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDKs) by X-ray crystallography and identifying NDK inhibitors by applying AI/deep learning methods along with structure-based drug design approach and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The project is a collaboration of Pharmaceutical Science Laboratory (PSL) and Structural Bioinformatics Laboratory (SBL), Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland (the Finnish partner) and Department of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, India (the Indian partner). The people involved in FICORE include Ronald Österbacka (Co-ordinator of the program, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Physics, Åbo Akademi University), Outi Salo-Ahen (PI, Finnish Partner, Faculty of Science and Engineering, PSL/SBL, Åbo Akademi University), A. Selvapandiyan (PI, Indian Partner, Department of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard University), Rajendra Bhadane (Postdoctoral Researcher, Faculty of Science and Engineering, PSL/SBL, Åbo Akademi University), Omprakash Tanwar (Collaborator from India, SGSITS, Department of Pharmacy, Indore), Ankit Gupta and Enam Reyaz (PhD Students, Department of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard University). |
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