Contact Details
- Phone
- 64 3 479 7296
- ian.tucker@otago.ac.nz
University Links
- Position
- Emeritus Professor
- Qualifications
- BPharm(Hons) PhD(Qld) MPS
- Research summary
- Drug formulation and delivery
- Teaching
Pharmaceutics, formulation and drug delivery to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Research
My general research area is in formulation and delivery of bioactives for human and veterinary applications. This can be divided into two broad areas: research on delivery systems for optimal delivery of bioactives (drugs); research on absorption processes in order to achieve optimal delivery of bioactives to target organs/cells
Current research on delivery systems is focussed on sustained release polymer matrix tablets. We are trying to understand the mechanisms involved in the coalescence of polymer particles in such tablets and how this leads to sustained release properties. The aim is to understand how the physico-chemical properties of 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 include: nanosystems including bilosomes and polymeric nanoparticles decorated with cell penetrating peptides; oil-based systems for intramuscular injection. Techniques used include: release studies, kinetic studies, thermal analytical methods, particle sizing (PCS, laser diffraction), electron microscopy, helium pycnometry, texture analysis, analytical methods particularly HPLC, factorial-designed studies and statistical analysis, regression methods for modelling release data.
The research on absorption processes is trying to understand how bioactives cross biological membranes, the role of transporters, stereoselectivity of transporters, how bile salts affect permeation through effects on membrane fluidity and transporter function. We have been concentrating on the blood brain barrier but given our active research programme on mastitis in dairy cattle, we are also interested in the blood–milk barrier. Techniques used include: cell culture studies, electron miscroscopy, in vivo studies including microdialysis, analytical methods (LCMS, radiotracer).
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 Journal - Research Article
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 Journal - Research Article
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 Journal - Research Article
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 Journal - Research Article
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