Professor Ian Tucker, Our People, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, New Zealand

Ian Tucker Professor Tucker is interested in the formulation and delivery of bioactives for human and veterinary applications. This can be divided into two broad research areas: delivery systems for optimal delivery of bioactives (drugs) and the study of absorption processes in order to achieve optimal drug delivery to target organs/cells.

Current research on delivery systems is focused on sustained release polymer matrix tablets, specifically the mechanisms involved in the coalescence of polymer particles in tablets and how this leads to the properties of sustained release. The aim is to understand how the physico-chemical properties of the drug, excipients and polymer affect the formation of stable polymer matrices in order to design tablets with predictable and stable release profiles.

Other delivery systems of interest include nanosystems (bilosomes and polymeric nanoparticles decorated with cell penetrating peptides) and oil-based systems for intramuscular injection. He is also interested in absorption processes, how bioactives cross biological membranes, the role of transporters and their stereoselectivity, how bile salts affect membrane fluidity and transporter function, and the blood–brain barrier.
To do his research, Professor Tucker uses cell-based assays, thermal analytical methods, particle sizing (PCS, laser diffraction), electron microscopy, helium pycnometry, texture analysis, analytical methods (particularly HPLC), factorial-designed studies and statistical analysis and regression methods for modelling release data.

Find out more about Professor Ian Tucker’s research.

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Publications

Yang, L., Zhang, H., Mikov, M., & Tucker, I. G. (2009). Physicochemical and biological characterization of monoketocholic acid, a novel permeability enhancer. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 6(2), 448-456. doi: 10.1021/mp800143w

Yang, L., Fawcett, J. P., Zhang, H., & Tucker, I. G. (2013). Effect of 12-oxochenodeoxycholate on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of morphine 6-glucuronide in Wistar rats. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, 65(4), 561-566. doi: 10.1111/jphp.12020

Yang, L., Zhang, H., Fawcett, J. P., Mikov, M., & Tucker, I. G. (2011). Effect of bile salts on the transport of morphine-6-glucuronide in rat brain endothelial cells. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 100(4), 1516-1524. doi: 10.1002/jps.22390

Pirayavaraporn, C., Rades, T., & Tucker, I. G. (2012). Determination of moisture content in relation to thermal behaviour and plasticization of Eudragit RLPO. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 422(1-2), 68-74. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2011.10.028

Petrovski, K. R., Caicedo-Caldas, A., Williamson, N. B., Lopez-Villalobos, N., Grinberg, A., Parkinson, T. J., & Tucker, I. G. (2011). Efficacy of a novel internal dry period teat sealant containing 0.5% chlorhexidine against experimental challenge with Streptococcus uberis in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, 94(7), 3366-3375. doi: 10.3168/jds.2010-3744

Journal - Research Article

Chen, G., Yang, L., Zhang, H., Tucker, I. G., & Fawcett, J. P. (2012). Effect of ketocholate derivatives on methotrexate uptake in Caco-2 cell monolayers. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 433, 89-93. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2012.04.077

Tucker, I. G., Yang, L., & Mujoo, H. (2012). Delivery of drugs to the brain via the blood brain barrier using colloidal carriers. Journal of Microencapsulation, 29(5), 475-486. doi: 10.3109/02652048.2012.658445

Jain, R., Wu, Z., Bork, O., & Tucker, I. G. (2012). Pre-formulation and chemical stability studies of penethamate, a benzylpenicillin ester prodrug, in aqueous vehicles. Drug Development & Industrial Pharmacy, 38(1), 55-63. doi: 10.3109/03639045.2011.590497

Yang, L., Broom, M. F., & Tucker, I. G. (2012). Characterization of a nanoparticulate drug delivery system using scanning ion occlusion sensing. Pharmaceutical Research, 29(9), 2578-2586. doi: 10.1007/s11095-012-0788-3

Tucker, I. G. (2011). Drug delivery to the brain via the blood-brain barrier: A review of the literature and some recent patent disclosures. Therapeutic Delivery, 2(3), 311-327. doi: 10.4155/tde.11.3

Yang, L., Tucker, I. G., & Østergaard, J. (2011). Effects of bile salts on propranolol distribution into liposomes studied by capillary electrophoresis. Journal of Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Analysis, 56(3), 553-559. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2011.06.020

Chatterjee, L., Rades, T., & Tucker, I. G. (2010). Mechanical properties of excipients do not affect polymer matrix formation. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 384(1/2), 87-92. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2009.09.047

Wu, Z., Tucker, I. G., Razzak, M., McSporran, K., & Medlicott, N. J. (2010). Tissue compatibility and pharmacokinetics of three potential subcutaneous injectables for low-pH drug solutions. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, 62(7), 873-882. doi: 10.1211/jpp.62.07.0008

Glaessl, B., Siepmann, F., Tucker, I., Rades, T., & Siepmann, J. (2010). Deeper insight into the drug release mechanisms in Eudragit RL-based delivery systems. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 389, 139-146. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2010.01.031

Li, Y., Zhang, H., Fawcett, J. P., & Tucker, I. G. (2010). Effect of cyclosporin A on the pharmacokinetics of mitoquinone (MitoQ₁₀), a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, in rat. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5(3), 106-113.

Wu, Z., Tucker, I. G., Razzak, M., Yang, L., McSporran, K., & Medlicott, N. J. (2010). Absorption and tissue tolerance of ricobendazole in the presence of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin following subcutaneous injection in sheep. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 397, 96-102. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2010.07.002

Krittaphol, W., McDowell, A., Thomson, C. D., Tucker, I. G., Fawcett, J. P., & Mikov, M. (2009). An improved HPLC method for the investigation of L-selenomethionine metabolism in rat gut contents. Biomedical Chromatography, 23, 1169-1174. doi: 10.1002/bmc.1239

Glaessl, B., Siepmann, F., Tucker, I., Siepmann, J., & Rades, T. (2009). Characterisation of quaternary polymethacrylate films containing tartaric acid, metoprolol free base or metoprolol tartrate. European Journal of Pharmaceutics & Biopharmaceutics, 73, 36-372. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2009.07.010

Wu, Z., Tucker, I. G., Razzak, M., & Medlicott, N. J. (2009). Stability of ricobendazole in aqueous solutions. Journal of Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Analysis, 49(5), 1282-1286. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2009.02.032

Chen, G., Fawcett, J. P., Mikov, M., & Tucker, I. G. (2009). Monoketocholate can decrease transcellular permeation of methotrexate across Caco-2 cell monolayers and reduce its intestinal absorption in rat. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, 61(7), 953-959. doi: 10.1211/jpp/61.07.0016

Chen, G., Fawcett, J. P., Mikov, M., & Tucker, I. G. (2009). Simultaneous determination of methotrexate and its polyglutamate metabolites in Caco-2 cells by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Analysis, 50(2), 262-266. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2009.04.025

McDowell, A., McLeod, B. J., Rades, T., & Tucker, I. G. (2009). Polymeric nanoparticles as an oral delivery system for biocontrol agents for the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 57(6), 370-377.

Baeumer, B., Chatterjee, L., Hinow, P., Rades, T., Radunskaya, A., & Tucker, I. (2009). Predicting the drug release kinetics of matrix tablets. Discrete & Continuous Dynamical Systems Series B, 12(2), 261-277. doi: 10.3934/dcdsb.2009.12.261

Jain, R., Wu, Z., & Tucker, I. G. (2009). A stability-indicating HPLC assay with diode array detection for the determination of a benzylpenicillin prodrug in aqueous solutions. Journal of Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Analysis, 50(5), 841-846. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2009.06.046

Mukhopadhyay, D., Saville, D., & Tucker, I. G. (2008). Crosslinking of drug-alginate granules: Part 2: Effect of granule preparation and composition on granule properties. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 356, 193-199. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2008.01.022

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