Research Department Pharmacotherapy and Galenic Pharmacy (DPP)

Unit of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmacy

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Research activities

The development of dry powders for inhalation (DPIs) to combat different diseases (e.g. lung tumors, infectious diseases, asthma and COPD), and that with different kind of drugs (e.g. poorly water soluble or water soluble drugs; conventional or from biotechnologies), with optimal aerodynamic performance, lung retention and eventually increased cell or tumor penetration.

Therefore, we evaluate our formulations in vitro on culture cells and in vivo on preclinical models. We develop also nasal formulation for the nose to brain delivery of nucleic acids (e.g. siRNA) or peptide and proteins that we evaluate in vitro on epithelial cell membrane and in vivo by histology and on preclinical models.

Finally, we have focused on cancer targeting by localizing the administration (inhalation against lung cancer; nose to brain against glioblastoma), and/or by targeting tumor tissue or tumor cells (e.g. via endocytosis receptors).

Top ten recent articles

The combination of an innovative dry powder for inhalation and a standard cisplatin-based chemotherapy in view of therapeutic intensification against lung tumours

Chraibi, S., Rosiere, R., Larbanoix, L., Gérard, P., Hennia, I., Laurent, S., Vermeersch, M., Amighi, K., & Wauthoz, N. (2021). The combination of an innovative dry powder for inhalation and a standard cisplatin-based chemotherapy in view of therapeutic intensification against lung tumours. European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics, 164, 93-104. doi:10.1016/j.ejpb.2021.04.018  

 

Inhaled cytotoxic chemotherapy: clinical challenges, recent developments, and future prospects

Wauthoz, N., Rosiere, R., & Amighi, K. (2020). Inhaled cytotoxic chemotherapy: clinical challenges, recent developments, and future prospects. Expert opinion on drug delivery. doi:10.1080/17425247.2021.1829590  

 

Platinum pharmacokinetics in mice following inhalation of cisplatin dry powders with different release and lung retention properties

Levet, V., Merlos, R., Rosiere, R., Amighi, K., & Wauthoz, N. (2017). Platinum pharmacokinetics in mice following inhalation of cisplatin dry powders with different release and lung retention properties. International journal of pharmaceutics, 517, 359-372. doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.12.037  

 

Development of siRNA-loaded chitosan nanoparticles targeting Galectin-1 for the treatment of gliobmastoma multiforme via intranasal administration

Van Woensel, M., Wauthoz, N., Rosiere, R., Mathieu, V., Kiss, R., Lefranc, F., Steelant, B., Van Gool, S. W., Mathivet, T., Gerhardt, H., Amighi, K., & De Vleeschouwer, S. (2016). Development of siRNA-loaded chitosan nanoparticles targeting Galectin-1 for the treatment of gliobmastoma multiforme via intranasal administration. Journal of controlled release, 227, 71-81. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.02.032  

 

Development and evaluation of well-tolerated and tumor-penetrating polymeric micelle-based dry powders for inhaled anti-cancer chemotherapy.

Rosiere, R., Van Woensel, M., Mathieu, V., Langer, I., Mathivet, T., Vermeersch, M., Amighi, K., & Wauthoz, N. (2016). Development and evaluation of well-tolerated and tumor-penetrating polymeric micelle-based dry powders for inhaled anti-cancer chemotherapy. International journal of pharmaceutics. doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.01.073  

 

Development of Controlled-Release Cisplatin Dry Powders for Inhalation against Lung Cancers

Levet, V., Rosiere, R., Merlos, R., Fusaro, L., Berger, G., Amighi, K., & Wauthoz, N. (2016). Development of Controlled-Release Cisplatin Dry Powders for Inhalation against Lung Cancers. International journal of pharmaceutics, 515(1-2), 209-220. doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.10.019  

 

Safe lipid nanocapsules-based gel technology to target lymph nodes and combat mediastinal metastases from an orthotopic non-small-cell lung cancer model in SCID-CB17 mice

Wauthoz, N., Bastiat, G., Moysan, E., Cieslak, A., Kondo, K., Zandecki, M., Moal, V., Rousselet, M.-C., Hureaux, J., & Benoit, J.-P. (2015). Safe lipid nanocapsules-based gel technology to target lymph nodes and combat mediastinal metastases from an orthotopic non-small-cell lung cancer model in SCID-CB17 mice. Nanomedicine, 11(5), 1237-1245. doi:10.1016/j.nano.2015.02.010  

 

Pharmacokinetic evaluation in mice of amorphous itraconazole-based dry powder formulations for inhalation with high bioavailability and extended lung retention.

Duret, C., Merlos, R., Wauthoz, N., Sebti, T., Vanderbist, F., & Amighi, K. (2014). Pharmacokinetic evaluation in mice of amorphous itraconazole-based dry powder formulations for inhalation with high bioavailability and extended lung retention. European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics, 86(1), 46-54. doi:10.1016/j.ejpb.2013.03.005  

 

Lactose characteristics and the generation of the aerosol

Pilcer, G., Wauthoz, N., & Amighi, K. (2012). Lactose characteristics and the generation of the aerosol. Advanced drug delivery reviews, 64(3), doi:10.1016/j.addr.2011.05.003, 233-256.  

 

Temozolomide-Based Dry Powder Formulations for Lung Tumor-Related Inhalation Treatment.

Wauthoz, N., Deleuze, P., Saumet, A., Duret, C., Kiss, R., & Amighi, K. (2010). Temozolomide-Based Dry Powder Formulations for Lung Tumor-Related Inhalation Treatment. Pharmaceutical research, 28(4), 762-75. doi:10.1007/s11095-010-0329-x