The development of nanotechnology and bio-engineered nano-materials has greatly increased the use of nano-manufactured formulations for drug delivery. Nanotechnology has vast applications in the aerospace, electronics, cosmoceuticals and more recently in medicine. Emulsions are of great interest in research as they can be made predominantly of basic natural substances. There are several methods to prepare mono-disperse nano-emulsions in the literature but we have chosen high energy-requiring micro-fluidization and low energy self-assembling nano-emulsions (SANE) using Phase Inversion Temperature (PIT) technology.

Nano-emulsions are thermodynamically stable, protective systems, generally in the size range of 10-100nm. They convert hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules to amphiphilic, thereby allowing delivery into polar versus non-polar matrices potentially reducing toxicity. We have used micro-fluidization and self assembling techniques for use as delivery systems.

My research applications are mainly in the area of cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Pharmaceuticals tested in the area of cancer were Tamoxifen (TAM), Dacarbazine (DTIC), Cisplatin (CDDP), Paclitaxel (PTX) and Methotrexate (MTX) and Lovastatin for CVD. I also tested Curcumin (Cur) a nutraceutical for anti-cancer indications. Nano-emulsions that were formulated are stable in terms of particle size and dispersion of the particles, which helps to increase the properties of permeation and sustainability in the cell and in the blood for longer durations so that they can work more effectively. Different human cancer cell lines and pre-clinical models were used to investigate the effect of nanoemulsion preparations of pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals for comparison with macro or suspension vehicles of these same drugs as it relates to bio-availability and efficacy. We have found that there is a significant increase in the stability and efficacy of the drug in the nano-emulsion delivery systems. We have researched the effect of nanoemulsion technology on the encapsulant concentration and have demonstrated that Microfluidizer® Processor and SANE technologies are not influencing the amount and structure of encapsulant.

My dissertation deals with the characterization and applications of nano-emulsions, in the area of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.