|
Drugs and Biomaterials
---
Programme Details
| Study Language
|
Czech |
|
Standard study length
|
4 years |
| Form of study
|
combined
,
full-time
|
| Guarantor
|
prof. Ing. Radek Cibulka, Ph.D.
|
| Place of study
|
Praha |
| Capacity
|
30 students |
| Programme code (national)
|
P0531D130072 |
| Programme Code (internal)
|
D105
|
| Number of Ph.D. topics
|
10 |
Ph.D. topics for study year 2025/26
Analysis of blood-based derivatives for the diagnosis of serious diseases of gastrointestinal tract
|
Study place:
|
Department of Analytical Chemistry, FCE, VŠCHT Praha
|
| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Analytical Chemistry
|
|
Also available in study programmes:
|
Chemistry (
in Czech language
)
|
| Supervisor: |
prof. Ing. Vladimír Setnička, Ph.D.
|
| Expected Form of Study: |
Full-time |
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship |
| |
Annotation
Mezi závažná onemocnění trávicí soustavy patří například karcinomy jater, jícnu, žaludku, slinivky, střev a konečníku. Časná diagnostika mnohých z nich je však v současné době velmi omezená a konvenční klinické přístupy nedosahují požadované spolehlivosti. Tato práce se zaměřuje na hledání nových cest využívajících pokročilé spektroskopické metody (především vibrační a chiroptické spektroskopie) při analýze krevních derivátů (typicky krevní plazmy z tekuté biopsie) pacientů a kontrolních jedinců pro identifikaci nových diagnostických markerů těchto onemocnění. Spektroskopické, případně omické, přístupy jsou navíc velmi šetrné pro pacienta. Práce bude realizována ve spolupráci se špičkovými klinickými pracovišti pražských fakultních nemocnic.
Tissue analysis using vibrational spectroscopy methods for the diagnosis of cancer diseases
|
Study place:
|
Department of Analytical Chemistry, FCE, VŠCHT Praha
|
| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Analytical Chemistry
|
| Supervisor: |
prof. Ing. Vladimír Setnička, Ph.D.
|
| Expected Form of Study: |
Full-time |
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship |
| |
Annotation
Metody vibrační spektroskopie (především Ramanova a infračervená) patří mezi účinné nástroje strukturní analýzy a stále častěji je studován jejich potenciál v oblasti klinické diagnostiky některých závažných onemocnění (nádorových či neurodegenerativních). Předmětem této disertační práce bude vývoj instrumentace a algoritmů umožňujících chemickou analýzu tkání s cílem nalézt spolehlivé spektrální markery pro diagnostiku některých závažných onemocnění, například karcinomu tlustého střeva či karcinomu plic. V součinnosti s klinickými pracovišti (např. Všeobecnou fakultní nemocnicí Praha) budou testovány unikátní Ramanovy mikrosondy, které by umožnily in vivo analýzu tkáňových vzorků bez nutnosti jejich odběru. Rovněž budou analyzovány tkáňové vzorky z biopsií.
Particle informatics
Annotation
Drug substances are typically produced in the form of crystals. However, the properties of these crystals can vary dramatically when considering various polymorphs or multicomponent drug solid forms (i.e., salts or cocrystals). The goal of this project is to characterize the surface properties of the drug crystals utilizing the crystal structure. As a part of the project, the student will be involved in the preparation of drug solid forms of interest and their characterization using single-crystal XRD, followed by the solution of the crystal structure. The obtained information will be used to predict properties of the crystal surface in terms of molecules present on the surface, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of the surface, intermolecular interactions between molecules located on the crystal surface and to correlate these data with the properties of produced crystals (e.g., stability under elevated temperature or humidity, solubility or dissolution). Furthermore, we would extend the information about the crystal structure to the prediction of crystal-crystal interaction and their relation to the crystal flowability or prediction of bulk properties of crystals (e.g., hardness) and its relation to powder tabletability
Photocatalyzed Processes in Microreactor Systems
|
Study place:
|
Department of Chemical Engineering, FCE, VŠCHT Praha
|
| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Chemical Engineering
|
|
Also available in study programmes:
|
Chemical and Process Engineering (
in English language
)
|
| Supervisor: |
Ing. Anna Vanluchene, Ph.D.
|
| Expected Form of Study: |
Full-time |
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship |
| |
Annotation
Fluorinated organic compounds are vital in pharmaceuticals, enhancing properties like membrane permeability and metabolic stability. However, fluorination reactions face challenges due to expensive and hazardous fluorinating agents. This project aims to develop efficient and sustainable methods for late-stage fluorination using heterogeneous 2D materials (e.g., g-C₃N₄). The study will focus on synthesizing and optimizing these catalysts for fine chemical fluorination, addressing key challenges such as catalyst immobilization, light penetration, and process scalability. Transitioning from batch to continuous flow setups will improve yield, selectivity, and safety in fluorination processes.
Inhalational drug nanocrystals for systemic delivery
|
Study place:
|
Department of Chemical Engineering, FCE, VŠCHT Praha
|
| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Chemical Engineering
|
|
Also available in study programmes:
|
Chemical and Process Engineering (
in Czech language
)
|
| Supervisor: |
Ing. Denisa Lizoňová, Ph.D.
|
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Not funded |
Annotation
This PhD project will focus on the design, preparation, and optimization of an aerosol drug nanocrystal fabrication process as a promising strategy for systemic delivery of poorly soluble low molecular weight drugs via the inhalation route. With a primary focus on nanocrystal preparation and aerosolization, the research aims to develop efficient techniques for the production of inhalable drug nanocrystals. The study will investigate different methods of nanocrystal preparation (wet milling, continuous precipitation) and evaluate their effectiveness in producing stable monodisperse nanocrystals that allow for better drug dissolution and thus higher bioavailability. In addition, the research will focus on the development and validation of aerosolization devices to ensure optimal drug delivery of nanocrystals. Through this research, the thesis aims to contribute to the development of non-invasive drug delivery methods, which will ultimately facilitate the introduction of new therapeutic agents into clinical practice. The student will learn techniques for the preparation and characterization of nanocrystals, the preparation and characterization of aerosols, and other methods necessary for the research project. In addition, the student will have the opportunity to collaborate within a multidisciplinary research team and present and publish their research.
Optimization of HME process and formulation of amorphous solid solutions
Annotation
Amorphous solid solutions (ASSs) are used to improve the dissolution rate of poorly soluble drugs. Despite their metastable nature, which commonly leads to a higher dissolution rate, the selection of suitable polymers and the optimization of the ASSs production process is a rather complicated task. To reduce the time and material requirements, in the proposed project, we plan to start with the screening of suitable polymers leading to solubility enhancement of the selected drug. In the next step, we will perform rheological characterization of the mixtures of promising polymers and selected drugs. This will consist of polymer-drug powder rheology and polymer-drug melt rheology measurement, resulting in the identification of critical process parameters of hot-melt extrusion (HME), i.e., powder flowability in the feeder, maximum feeding rate of the powder mixture into the extruder, minimum melting temperature of the polymer-drug mixture, maximum drug loading in the polymer-drug melt, viscosity of the polymer-drug melt and possible conditions for drug or polymer degradation. Since rheological measurement is fully automated and requires only a fraction of the material than HME itself, the proposed method will allow a significant reduction of time and material requirements for the optimization of HME. Obtained data will be used to construct dimensionless characteristics of the HME process suitable for easy setup of the process parameters and process scale-up. While HME is commonly used for the production of ASSs in the form of filaments, which are consequently milled into particles to be used in the final drug product, in the proposed project, we plan to extend the formulation of ASSs in the form of films or spherules. Taking advantage of HME as a continuous process, in the following step, we would extend this capability towards film formation or production of spherical particles. On-line Raman spectroscopy will be used to control the quality of the final product. This will be combined with off-line characterization (i.e., XRD, DSC, NMR, IDR measurement) to ensure the production of stable ASSs with enhanced drug dissolution rate.
Preparation of a microfluidic platform for diagnostics
|
Study place:
|
Department of Chemical Engineering, FCE, VŠCHT Praha
|
| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Chemical Engineering
|
| Supervisor: |
doc. Ing. Viola Tokárová, Ph.D.
|
| Expected Form of Study: |
Full-time |
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship + salary |
| |
Annotation
Controlling of drug crystal properties during crystallization
Annotation
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) are commonly small molecules that are used in the form of particles prepared by the crystallization process. Properties of prepared crystals (i.e., physico-chemical but also formulation properties) are strongly dependent on the used drug solid form, their size, and crystal morphology. The process of spherical crystallization results in the formation of crystals assembled into spherical particles. The goal of this project is to investigate the possibility of using this procedure for the preparation of crystalline drug particles of various polymorphs and multicomponent solid forms (i.e., cocrystals) or even conglomerates containing multiple drugs in a single spherical particle. In addition, the process will be optimized to be operated in a continuous mode. Furthermore, the students will also be involved in the automation of the whole process consisting of the mixing of crystalizing streams containing a drug (drugs) and excipients but as the operation of the stirring unit where spherical crystallization is taking place using process analytical technology (characterization of particle size, shape, and composition). Obtained particles will be characterized by several analytical methods (i.e., SEM, XRD, DSC, NMR, measurement of the dissolution rate of a single particle) and their properties will be compared to those measured for crystalline particles of drugs prepared by classical cooling crystallization.
Structural studies and identification of pharmaceutically important and psychoactive substances using vibrational and chiroptical spectroscopy
|
Study place:
|
Department of Analytical Chemistry, FCE, VŠCHT Praha
|
| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Analytical Chemistry
|
|
Also available in study programmes:
|
Chemistry (
in Czech language
)
|
| Supervisor: |
prof. Ing. Vladimír Setnička, Ph.D.
|
| Expected Form of Study: |
Full-time |
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship |
| |
Annotation
Práce je zaměřena na vývoj metod strukturní analýzy farmaceuticky významných a psychoaktivních molekul a nových nástrojů pro odhalování drog a padělků léčiv s využitím metod vibrační (infračervené a Ramanovy) a chiroptické (cirkulární dichroismus, Ramanova optická aktivita) spektroskopie. Student bude analyzovat nejen čisté látky (mnohdy chirální povahy), ale též reálné vzorky ze záchytů, především z oblasti anabolických steroidů, disociativních anestetik a syntetických drog. Budou též sledovány specifické projevy přítomnosti chirálních nečistot a matric. Analýza struktury a interpretace spekter bude podpořena metodami molekulárního modelování. Práce bude realizována ve spolupráci s Kriminalistickým ústavem Policie České republiky a za podpory grantových projektů Ministerstva vnitra ČR.
Development of depot systems for controlled release of active substances
|
Study place:
|
Department of Chemical Engineering, FCE, VŠCHT Praha
|
| Guaranteeing Departments: |
Department of Chemical Engineering
|
| Supervisor: |
Ing. Denisa Lizoňová, Ph.D.
|
| Expected Method of Funding: |
Scholarship |
| |
Annotation
The proposed PhD project focuses on the development of hydrogel-based depot systems for the controlled and sustained release of therapeutic agents, with a particular emphasis on subcutaneous formulations utilizing liposomes. The research will explore how to formulate these depots for both biopharmaceutics (peptides) and small-molecule drugs, aiming to identify the key factors governing sustained release based on the physicochemical properties of the encapsulated molecule. The student will optimize hydrogel composition, crosslinking strategies, and liposomal carrier integration to enhance stability, drug encapsulation efficiency, and release kinetics. A key focus will be on understanding how the interplay between hydrogel structure, liposomal properties, and drug characteristics influences release behavior and depot performance. The project will also involve physicochemical and biochemical characterization, including biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and degradation behavior. Through this research, the student will gain hands-on experience in hydrogel synthesis, liposome preparation, drug release studies, and biochemical assays, along with expertise in advanced characterization techniques such as rheology, microscopy, and spectroscopy. Additionally, the student will develop skills in scientific writing, project management, and interdisciplinary collaboration, preparing them for a career in biomedical research and drug delivery innovation.
|
