Active Research Initiatives

Advanced Delivery Systems for Supplements

Specific Projects:

Liposomal Encapsulation Optimization:

• Liposome formation methods for nutraceuticals
• Stability optimization (shelf life improvement)
• In-vitro and in-vivo bioavailability studies
• Characterization methods (particle size, encapsulation efficiency)

Oral Disintegrating Tablets (ODT):

• Taste-masking technologies for bitter actives
• Super-disintegrant selection and optimization
• Formulation robustness (humidity resistance)
• Dissolution kinetics

Osmotic Controlled-Release:

• Adapting pharmaceutical osmotic systems for supplements
• Polymer selection for pH-independent release
• Laser drilling optimization
• In-vitro release testing methods

Research Opportunities:

• Graduate student projects
• Postdoctoral fellowships
• Joint research publications
• Technology validation studies

Bioavailability Enhancement

Current Investigations:

Nanoparticle Formulations:

• Size reduction techniques (top-down and bottom-up)
• Particle size effects on absorption
• Safety evaluation of nanoparticles
• Dissolution rate enhancement

Permeation Enhancers:

• Natural permeation enhancers for transdermal/oral delivery
• Mechanism of action studies
• Safety and reversibility
• Formulation compatibility

Lipid-Based Formulations:

• Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS)
• Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN)
• Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC)
• Lymphatic absorption pathways

Research Methods:

• Caco-2 cell permeability studies
• Ex-vivo intestinal permeation
• Animal PK studies (university partnerships)
• Human bioavailability trials (clinical collaborations)

Cosmeceutical Delivery Innovation

Active Projects:

Transdermal Delivery:

• Microneedle technology for cosmetics
• Peptide and protein delivery through skin
• Safety and consumer acceptance

Nanocarrier Systems:

• Liposomes for skin delivery
• Niosome formulations
• Cubosomes and hexosomes
• Comparative efficacy studies

Penetration Enhancement:

• Chemical enhancers (safe for cosmetics)
• Physical methods (iontophoresis, sonophoresis)
• Formulation strategies (pH optimization, vehicle selection)

Efficacy Testing:

• In-vitro skin models (reconstructed human epidermis)
• Ex-vivo human skin studies
• Clinical efficacy trials (wrinkle reduction, brightening, etc.)

Natural Product Pharmacology

Vietnamese Herbal Research:

Gac Oil (Momordica cochinchinensis):

• Carotenoid composition and bioavailability
• Antioxidant mechanisms
• Skin health benefits (scientific validation)
• Optimal extraction methods

Coffee Oil:

• Bioactive compound identification
• Caffeine delivery through skin
• Anti-cellulite mechanisms
• Standardization methods

Boswellia serrata:

• Anti-inflammatory mechanisms (COX/LOX inhibition)
• Boswellic acid pharmacokinetics
• Structure-activity relationships
• Clinical trial design for joint health

Hesperidin:

• Vascular health mechanisms
• Metabolism and bioavailability
• Formulation strategies for enhancement

505(b)(2) Pharmaceutical Development

Pipeline Projects:

JAK3/TEC Inhibitor Topical:

• Formulation development for skin penetration
• Stability and compatibility studies
• Preclinical efficacy and safety
• Regulatory strategy and IND preparation

CGRP Antagonist Transdermal Patch:

• Permeation enhancement strategies
• Patch design and adhesive selection
• In-vitro release and permeation studies
• Pharmacokinetic modeling

Peptide Microneedle System:

• Microneedle fabrication
• Peptide stability in polymer matrix
• Controlled release kinetics
• Preclinical testing

Research Collaborations Needed:

• Preclinical testing (university animal facilities)
• Clinical trial design and execution
• Regulatory consultation
• Analytical method development

Quality by Design (QbD) Approaches

Investigations:

Design of Experiments (DoE):

• Formulation optimization using statistical designs
• Critical quality attribute (CQA) identification
• Design space establishment

Process Analytical Technology (PAT):

• In-line monitoring methods
• Real-time quality assurance
• Process understanding

Continuous Manufacturing:

• Applicability to supplement production
• Quality assurance in continuous processes