Drug Transport and Delivery Research Group focuses on pharmaceutical technology as scientific discipline with particular interests in drug transport across biological membranes and drug delivery systems as means for improved bioavailability. The group aims at gaining a deeper understanding of transport processes of drugs in the body and its inter-relationship with drug delivery systems. The aim is the optimization of various drug dosage forms and delivery systems (advanced formulations) destined for oral, vaginal, parenteral and topical route of drug administration. Advanced drug dosage forms and delivery systems should promote the therapeutic effects of the drug and reduce its toxic effects by increasing the amount and persistence of drug in vicinity of target cells and reducing the drug exposure to non targets cells.
Senior scientific staff
Gøril Eide FlatenProfessor
Gøril Eide Flaten – Professor
Research interests:
The main focus of my research is permeability of drug through and into different absorption barriers, both in respect of understanding the mechanisms and factors affecting the permeability of compounds, and means to improve the permeability through use of advanced delivery systems. I have, in particular, experience with Advanced nanoparticulate drug delivery systems mainly for poorly soluble drugs as well as use of liposomes as model for cell membranes in interactions with peptides and proteins. My expertise thus spans from development of models for permeability screening as well as estimation of permeability of drugs and drug candidates, formulation of poorly soluble drugs, characterization of nanoparticulate delivery systems, biopharmaceutical characterisation of delivery systems (cell toxicity and permeability) to in vivo biodistribution studies in mouse models. Administration sites in focus have been the intestine, vagina, and skin, but I have also experience with parenteral formulations for tumour targeted delivery.
Her research focus is on advanced (nano)delivery systems, aiming to improve drug therapy through improved uptake, stability and/or specificity, with reduced side-effects and more effective therapy as the main goal. Her expertise and research interest are particularly focused on liposomes, nanofibers and hydrogels, either applied alone or in combination. Drug formulations are intended for topical (wounded skin) or systemic (injection) administration, possessing either antimicrobial, anti-cancer or immunomodulating effect.
In the DTD-research group, Ann Mari is holding a specific expertise in electrospinning of nanofibers and in applying "dual centrifugation" for the homogenization and size reduction of nanoparticle, including mainly liposomes.
The long-term goal of our research is to fundamentally understand and overcome biological and microbial barriers to drug delivery. We apply our findings to engineer advanced technologies that can be used to treat recurrent infections and to manage skin diseases/disorders (e.g., inflammatory skin disorders, wound therapy).
2021 - in progress: Primary supervisor for Alexandra Sofia Antunes de Sousa (Drug transport and delivery research group - UiT). Financed: Center for New Antibacterial Strategies (CANS), UiT, Tromsø.
2023 - in progress: Primary supervisor for Dmytro Kravtsov (Drug transport and delivery research group - UiT). Financed: Tromsø research foundation, Tromsø.
2022 - in progress: Assistant supervisor for Tejas Athavale (Drug transport and delivery research group - UiT). Financed: UiT, Tromsø.
Supervision of master/exchange students:
Since 2020, I have supervised 6 master students at UiT in the Department of Pharmacy.