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.
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.
List of areas of research interests:
Dissemination to sosiety availeble online
Sjekk datoen, (2023)
Forskningspodcast fra UiT Norges arktiske universitet (2018)
Hvordan velge de beste kandidatene for fremtidens legemidler? (2018)
42 millioner kroner for utvikling av persontilpasset medisin (2018)
Så lenge holder solkremen din (2017)
Er det sant at man må kaste solkremen etter ett år? (2016)
Skammelig nedprioritering (2016)
Er kvinnesykdommer mindre viktige? (2016)
Skammelig nedprioritering av forskning på kvinnesykdommer (2016)
Finner de beste legemidlene – uten dyreforsøk (2015)
Gjennombrudd: Dyreforsøk med brannskader kan erstattes (2014)
Hermer stoffopptak via hud og tarm (2012)
Legemidler og barrierer (2012)
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.
Liposomes
Vaginal drug delivery systems
Vaginal infections
Nanomedicine
Hydrogels
Antimicrobials
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).
Our research is carried out in the Drug transport and delivery research group at UiT in Tromsø, Norway. Key research areas include the following:
PhD supervision:
Supervision of master/exchange students:
dvanced drug delivery systems for localized therapy
Advanced drug delivery systems for systemic therapy
Lipid-based delivery systems
Hydrogels
Member of project "Baceria responsive and intrinsically active antimicrobial nanohybrids (Coalition)"
Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new anti-aging, anticancer and antimicrobial drugs. Natural product chemistry.
