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Razstava: Doma na Fakulteti za farmacijo

 

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Doma na Fakulteti za farmacijo

              

At home at the Faculty of Pharmacy
Temelji Fakultete za farmacijo Univerze v Ljubljani segajo v leto 1960, ki zaznamuje uvedbo celovitega študija farmacije. Študij farmacije je doživljal številne posodobitve in prenove, ki jih je narekoval intenziven tempo razvoja stroke in težnja po mednarodni uveljavljenosti in primerljivosti. 
Fakulteta izvaja študijske programe na vseh treh bolonjskih stopnjah in sicer izvajamo enovit magistrski študij Farmacija, univerzitetni in magistrski študijski program Laboratorijska biomedicina in magistrski študijski program Industrijska farmacija. Doktorski študijski program poteka v okviru interdisciplinarnega programa Biomedicina na treh znanstvenih področjih: Farmacija, Klinična biokemija in laboratorijska biomedicina ter Toksikologija. Mednarodne izmenjave študentov potekajo na vseh treh stopnjah. Specialistični študijski program se izvaja v sodelovanju med Fakulteto za farmacijo z Lekarniško zbornico Slovenije,  Ministrstvom za zdravje in Zbornico laboratorijske medicine Slovenije.
Naše temeljno poslanstvo je poleg univerzitetnega izobraževanja tudi vrhunsko znanstvenoraziskovalno delo. Znanja in izsledke raziskav prenašamo na generacije študentov in tako prispevamo k boljšim kompetencam diplomantov, ki osvajajo tudi kritično znanstveno razmišljanje in ga prenašajo v industrijsko in klinično delovno okolje. 
S svojimi skoraj 1500 študenti na vseh treh ravneh študija in 200 zaposlenimi sodimo med večje farmacevtske fakultete v Evropi. Da bi še naprej zagotavljali kakovostne delovne pogoje za študij in raziskovanje ter na sploh stimulativno univerzitetno okolje načrtujemo novogradnjo v univerzitetnem kampusu Brdo.
V letu 2021 smo prepoznana, mednarodno odprta in odlična raziskovalna in pedagoška inštitucija, ki prispeva svoj delež v slovensko in svetovno zakladnico znanja in iz nje prenaša znanje med študente in druge uporabnike. V sodelovanju s partnerji ustvarjamo dodano vrednost na področju zagotavljanja izboljšanih zdravstvenih storitev, za dvig kakovosti zdravja in življenja čim večjega števila ljudi. Priznanje gre vsem snovalcem, ki so oblikovali temelje izobraževanja, raziskovanja in strokovnega dela ter vsem generacijam študentov, ki so niti sodelovanja marljivo tkali in jih uspešno stkali v vrhunske storitve na področju farmacije, laboratorijske biomedicine in kozmetologije.		     The foundations of the Faculty of Pharmacy University of Ljubljana date back to 1960, the year marked by the introduction of a comprehensive study of pharmacy. The pharmacy study programme has undergone revisions and transformations, dictated by the intense pace of pharmaceutical profession development and aspiration towards international recognition and comparability. 
The Faculty of Pharmacy carries out programmes at all three Bologna cycles: Uniform master’s programme of pharmacy, first- and second-cycle university study programme of laboratory medicine, first-cycle university study programme of cosmetology and second cycle programme of industrial pharmacy. Doctoral study programme is carried out within interdisciplinary programme Biomedicine in three fields of study: Pharmacy, Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Biomedicine, and Toxicology. International student exchange programmes are proceeding at all three cycles. Specialist study programme is carried out in cooperation between the Faculty of Pharmacy and Slovenian Chamber of Pharmacy, Ministry of Health and Slovenian Chamber of Laboratory Medicine.
In addition to university education, our basic mission is also top scientific research work. We disseminate knowledge and research results to generations of students and thus contribute to the better competencies of graduates, who also master critical scientific thinking and transfer it to the industrial and clinical work environment.
With almost 1500 students at all three levels of study and 200 employees, we are one of the largest pharmaceutical faculties in Europe. In order to continue to provide excellent working conditions for study and research and a generally stimulating university environment, we are planning a new building on the Brdo university campus.
In 2021, we are a recognized, internationally open and excellent research and teaching institution. We contribute our share to the Slovenian and world treasury of knowledge and transfer knowledge to students and other users. In cooperation with partners, we create added value in the field of improved health services with a goal to raise the quality of health and life of as many people as possible. The recognition goes to all the participants who formed the foundations of education, research and professional work, and to all generations of students who diligently weaved collaborations and successfully intertwined them into top services in the fields of pharmacy, laboratory biomedicine and cosmetology.




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Sodelujemo z  industrijo

          

Cooperation with industry
Posebna vrednota Fakultete za farmacijo Univerze v Ljubljani je tudi zavezanost k raziskovalnemu in razvojnemu sodelovanju z različnimi fakultetami, inštituti, lekarnami in predvsem z industrijo, doma in v tujini. Za uspešne raziskave se zaposleni kontinuirano izobražujemo in skrbimo za nadgrajevanje in posodabljanje raziskovalne opreme, da bi tako zagotovili visoko raven znanstvenega in razvojnega sodelovanja. Številna sodelovanja z industrijskim okoljem so plod dolgoletne uspešnosti pri reševanju najzahtevnejših razvojnih izzivov. Povezovanje z industrijo nam hkrati omogoča prenos prebojnih idej iz akademske sfere v realni sektor, s potencialom realizacije na trgu. Eden od rezultatov takšnih povezav je razvit in patentiran inovativni »swirl flow« vrtinčnoslojni oblagalnik pelet in mini tablet, podprt z eksperimentalnimi in simulacijskimi tehnikami, ki glede na primerljivo procesno opremo omogoča tvorbo enakomernejše obloge, kar je ključno za izdelavo visokokakovostnega zdravila. Razvoj je bil izveden v sodelovanju Fakultete za farmacijo Univerze v Ljubljani s podjetjem Brinox d.o.o. in Fakulteto za strojništvo Univerze v Ljubljani.     A special value of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Ljubljana is the commitment to research and development cooperation with various faculties, institutes, pharmacies and especially with industry, at home and abroad. For successful research, employees are constantly educated and take care of upgrading and updating research equipment so as to effectively ensure a high level of scientific and development cooperation. Numerous collaborations with the industrial environment stem from several years of success in solving the most demanding development challenges. Connecting with industry enables us to transfer breakthrough ideas from the academic sphere to the real sector, with the potential for realization on the market. One of such collaborations resulted in the patented innovative swirl airflow fluid bed coater of pellets and mini tablets, supported by experimental and simulation techniques, which according to comparable process equipment allows the formation of a more even coating, which is crucial for high quality medicine. The development was carried out in cooperation with the company Brinox d.o.o. and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana.







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Rešujemo trdovratne težave

          

Solving persistent problems
Bakterijska rezistenca je postala izredno pomemben globalni problem in je tudi v Sloveniji izpostavljena kot pomemben družbeni cilj. V boju proti bakterijski rezistenci se na Katedri za farmacevtsko kemijo ukvarjamo z razvojem novih protibakterijskih učinkovin, ki se vpletajo v različne stopnje pri razmnoževanju bakterij, s čimer dosežemo zaustavitev rasti ali smrt bakterij. Med pomembnejšimi tarčami so encimi, ki se vpletajo v izgradnjo bakterijske celične stene, in encimi, ki sodelujejo pri podvajanju bakterijske molekule DNK. Pri načrtovanju novih učinkovin uporabljamo moderne pristope strukturno podprtega načrtovanja, spojine nato sintetiziramo v naših laboratorijih in ovrednotimo njihovo delovanje na bakterijskih encimih in patogenih bakterijah. Poleg želenega delovanja velik del raziskav posvetimo tudi izboljšanju fizikalno-kemijskih lastnosti spojin in njihovi varnosti – odsotnost delovanja na človeške celice. Raziskave na tem področju so vodile do številnih objav v uglednih znanstvenih revijah in patentov.
     Bacterial resistance has become an extremely important global problem and is also highlighted as an important social goal in Slovenia. In the fight against bacterial resistance, we at the Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry are working on the development of new antibacterial agents that target different stages of the bacterial proliferation, thereby achieving growth arrest or bacterial death. Among the more important targets are enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall and enzymes involved in the replication of the bacterial DNA molecule. When designing new compounds, we use modern approaches of structure-based design, the compounds are then synthesized in our laboratories and their activity on bacterial enzymes and pathogenic bacteria is evaluated. In addition to the desired effect, much of the research is devoted to improving the physicochemical properties of the compounds and their safety - the absence of action on human cells. Research in this field has led to numerous publications in prestigious scientific journals and patents.







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Premagujemo nove izzive

    

Overcoming new challenges
Na Katedri za farmacevtsko biologijo razvijamo nove, izboljšane metode za čiščenje pomembne skupine bioloških zdravil -  terapevtskih monoklonskih protiteles. Zanimanje za učinkovitejše načine čiščenja protiteles s ciljem izboljšanja kromatografskih postopkov narašča v biotehnologiji in farmacevtski industriji. Na fakulteti smo razvili in patentno zaščitili peptidne ligande protiteles, ki so uporabni pri izolaciji in čiščenju protiteles z afinitetno kromatografijo, detekciji protiteles in njihovem pritrjevanju na površine (npr. za uporabo v biosenzorjih). Peptide smo odkrili in izpopolnili s pomočjo napredne tehnologije predstavitve na bakteriofagu, metode, ki omogoča usmerjeno molekularno evolucijo v laboratorijskih pogojih in za razvoj katere so leta 2018 podelili Nobelovo nagrado za kemijo. Naš izum predstavlja dostopnejšo in cenejšo alternativo trenutno prevladujočemu načinu izolacije in čiščenja, ki temelji na uporabi rekombinantnih bakterijskih imunoglobulin-vezavnih proteinov. Pridobivanje sinteznih peptidnih ligandov je razmeroma poceni in imajo pomembno prednost z vidika varnosti in stabilnosti. Raziskave na tem področju so vodile do več objav v uglednih znanstvenih revijah in patentnih prijav.
     At the Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, we have been developing improved purification methods for a major group of biological drugs – the therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. In pharmaceutical and biotech industry there is increasing interest in highly efficient antibody isolation and purification technologies, centered at improving chromatographic approaches and schemes. Innovative peptide ligands have been devised and patented, which allow for antibody purification via affinity chromatography, antibody detection and/or immobilization (e.g., to biosensor surfaces). The peptides were identified and further optimized through the molecular evolution technique termed phage display, a method whose importance was recognized by 2018 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Our invention is a viable alternative to the commonly used purification method based on recombinant immunoglobulin-binding proteins, as it is more cost-effective. Namely, chemically synthesized peptides are very affordable and have the advantage of being resistant to harsh conditions as well as having a favorable safety profile. The research in this field has led to several publications in important scientific journals and patent applications.








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Spoznavamo mehanizme razvoja bolezni

    

Investigating mechanisms of disease development
Poznavanje mehanizma nevrodegeneracije vodi k razvoju novih strategij zdravljenja nevrodegenerativnih bolezni. Na Katedri za farmacevtsko biologijo raziskujemo mehanizme nevrodegenerativnih procesov, ki so vpleteni v razvoj Parkinsonove bolezni. Parkinsonova bolezen je pogosta bolezen, ki prizadene starejšo populacijo, in predstavlja pomemben zdravstveni problem, saj zanjo nimamo učinkovitega zdravljenja. Raziskujemo, kakšno vlogo ima pri razvoju bolezni encim katepsin X. Naše raziskovalne aktivnosti so usmerjene v natančno poznavanje molekularnega mehanizma delovanja katepsina X in njegove tarče γ-enolaze v nevrodegenerativnih procesih ter v iskanje učinkovitih zaviralcev katepsina X, ki predstavljajo nove potencialne učinkovine za zdravljenje nevrodegenerativnih boleznih. Izsledki raziskav na tem področju so vodili do številnih objav v uglednih znanstvenih revijah.     Knowledge of the mechanism of neurodegeneration leads to the development of novel strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. At the Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, we investigate the mechanisms of neurodegenerative processes involved in the development of Parkinson's disease. Parkinson’s disease is a common disease that affects the elderly population and represents very important health issues as there is no cure for this devastating disease. Our research activities are focused to reveal the precise molecular mechanism of cathepsin X action and its target γ-enolase in neurodegenerative processes. Our research activities also reside in the application of effective cathepsin X inhibitors as a novel strategy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The results of research have led to numerous publications in high-ranking scientific journals in the field.




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Razvijamo nova zdravila

    

Developing new drugs
Za razliko od nekaterih naključno odkritih učinkovin v preteklosti je v sodobnem času v ospredju racionalno načrtovanje učinkovin. Pri tem si na Katedri za farmacevtsko kemijo pomagamo z računalniškimi metodami, ki nam omogočajo proučevanje vezave načrtovanih spojin v tridimenzionalno strukturo tarče in s tem njihovo optimizacijo. Odkrili in razvili smo številne spojine z različnimi farmakološkimi učinki, predvsem s protitumornim in protimikrobnim učinkom ter učinkovin za zdravljenje nevrodegenerativnih bolezni.
V boju proti demenci in nevrodegenerativnim boleznim, kot sta Alzheimerjeva in Parkinsonova bolezen, smo se osredotočili na encime in receptorje, ki so pomembni pri nastanku in poteku teh bolezni. Eden izmed teh je encim butirilholin esteraza, ki je povezan z upadom kognitivnih sposobnosti bolnikov z Alzheimerjevo boleznijo. Na osnovi strukturno podprtega načrtovanja smo odkrili selektivne zaviralce butirilholin esteraze. Za najboljše spojine smo v testih na miših ter tudi pri psih dokazali, da izboljšajo spomin in ostale miselne sposobnosti. Raziskave na tem področju so vodile do številnih objav v uglednih znanstvenih revijah in patentov.
     Unlike some randomly discovered drugs in the past, rational drug design is the state-of-the-art method in drug development. At the Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry we use computational drug design methods that allow us to study and optimise the binding of the designed compounds in the three-dimensional structure of the target. We have discovered and developed a number of compounds with diverse pharmacological effects, primarily with antitumor and antimicrobial activities and bioactive compounds for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
In the fight against dementia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, we at the Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry have focused on enzymes and receptors that are important for the onset and progression of these diseases. One of these is the enzyme butyrylcholinesterase, which has been linked to a decline in cognitive abilities in Alzheimer’s patients. Structure-based design has been used to develop selective butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors. For the best compounds, we have shown in tests in mice as well as in dogs that they improve memory and other mental abilities. Research in this area has led to numerous publications in renowned scientific journals and to patents.




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Usmerjeni smo k posamezniku

    

Focusing on the individual
Na Katedri za biofarmacijo in farmakokinetiko razvijamo nova zdravila in proučujemo možnosti individualiziranega zdravljenja z zdravili. Razvijamo analizne metode za določanje koncentracije zdravilnih učinkovin v krvi in drugih bioloških vzorcih, ki jih uporabljamo tudi za terapevtsko spremljanje koncentracij zdravilnih učinkovin in optimizacijo zdravljenja z zdravili. Ukvarjamo se z majhnimi molekulami in sodobnimi biološkimi zdravili. Z naprednimi tehnikami mikrovzorčenja (posušeni krvni madeži, volumetrično absorptivno mikrovzorčenje) omogočamo bolniku prijazen odvzem vzorca. Časovne poteke koncentracij zdravilnih učinkovin povezujemo z njihovimi terapevtskimi in neželenimi učinki. V ta namen razvijamo sodobne farmakokinetične-farmakodinamične modele, ki omogočajo proučevanje različnih demografskih, biokemijskih in genetskih vzrokov za variabilnost učinkov zdravljenja in prilagajanje odmerjanja zdravil po meri bolnika.
 		     At the Chair of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics we are developing novel medicinal products as well as strategies for individualization of pharmacotherapy. We are applying cutting-edge analytical methods for determination of drug concentration in blood and other biological samples. Drug concentration measurements are used for therapeutic drug monitoring and optimization of drug therapy. Modern biopharmaceuticals as well as small molecules are sampled via advanced micro-sampling techniques (dried blood spots, volumetric absorptive microsampling) that are more patient-friendly than conventional venipuncture. The associations between drug concentration-time profile and therapeutic or adverse effects of the drug are studied using innovative pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling. This enables identification of demographic, biochemical and genetic sources of variability of drug effects and individualization of drug dosing regimen.







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Proučujemo vpliv genov na zdravljenje

    

Investigating the influence of genes on  medical treatment 
Katedra za klinično biokemijo že več kot desetletje plodno sodeluje s Kliničnim oddelkom za otroško hematologijo in onkologijo Pediatrične klinike v Ljubljani na področju farmakogenomike in personalizirane terapije pri otroški akutni limfoblastni levkemiji. Z genetskimi preiskavami smo identificirali različice genov, ki vplivajo na izid terapije s proti-rakavimi zdravilnimi učinkovinami, tiopurini. Izsledki raziskav predstavljajo podporo zdravnikom pri prilagajanju odmerka zdravila posameznemu bolniku. Preiskave izvajamo v okviru Laboratorija za molekularno diagnostiko, ki je medicinski laboratorij z dovoljenjem za delo Ministrstva za zdravje RS, in je odličen primer prenosa znanstvenih dognanj v klinično prakso. Naš cilj je izboljšanje izidov zdravljenja in kvalitete življenja bolnikov, saj lahko z individualizacijo zdravljenja, ki temelji na genetskih preiskavah, povečamo varnost in učinkovitost terapije.      For more than a decade, the Chair of clinical chemistry is working in cooperation with Clinical department for paediatric haematology and oncology of the Paediatric clinic Ljubljana to personalize and improve the therapy outcomes of paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients using pharmacogenomics approaches. By means of genotyping methods, we identified alleles that influence thioupurine treatment outcomes. Our research results are used by clinicians to choose an optimal dosage of an anticancer drug for a specific patient. The genetic testing of patients is carried out in the Laboratory for molecular diagnostics, a diagnostic laboratory licensed by Slovenian Ministry of health. This is an example of a successful translation of research results into the clinical practice. Our main goal is to improve the patients’ quality of life by improving the efficiency and safety of the therapy using genetic testing and personalized approaches. 







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Odkrivamo genetske osnove bolezni

    

Discovering genetic basis of diseases
Na Katedri za klinično biokemijo iščemo biološke kazalce etiopatogeneze kompleksnih bolezni, kot so osteoporoza, osteoartroza, metabolni sindrom, kronična limfocitna levkemija, prirojene srčne napake, orofacialne shize, ateroskleroza in avtoimunske bolezni, na genomskem, epigenetskem, transkriptomskem, proteomskem in metabolomskem nivoju. Pri tem se poslužujemo sodobnih tehnologij in pristopov, kot so DNA in RNA mikromreže, sekvenciranje naslednje generacije (NGS), bioinformatična analiza, ter funkcijsko vrednotenje na nivoju celičnih modelov, v humanih tkivnih vzorcih in živalskih modelih. Omenjene raziskave kompleksnih bolezni so pomembne za preprečevanje in izboljšanje diagnostike le-teh, kot tudi z vidika iskanja novih terapevtskih  pristopov, kar bo prispevalo k večji kvaliteti življenja bolnikov.
 
     The objective of the research at the Chair of clinical chemistry is to identify biomarkers of complex conditions such as osteoporosis, osteoarthrosis, metabolic syndrome, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, congenital heart disease, orofacial clefts, atherosclerosis, and autoimmune disease on genomics, epigenetic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomics level. We are using contemporary technologies and approaches, such as DNA and RNA arrays, next generation sequencing, bioinformatics, and functional studies on cell lines, human tissues and animal models. Results of this research will lead to the better diagnostics and prevention of complex diseases, as well as identification of new therapeutic targets, improving patient therapeutic outcomes.







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Razvijamo zdravila iz bolniku lastnih celic

    

Using patient’s own cells as medicine
Človeško telo je zgrajeno iz približno 30.000.000.000.000, več kot 200 različnih vrst celic, ki opravljajo raznovrstne, bolj ali manj specializirane funkcije. Med njimi so tudi takšne, ki tekom celega življenja skrbijo za obnavljanje tkivnih poškodb in nadomeščanje odsluženih celic z novimi. Po izolaciji iz tkiv, lahko njihove regeneracijske potenciale in raznovrstne funkcijske lastnosti še dodatno spodbudimo ali pa ustrezno spremenimo. V ta namen uporabljamo različne biotehnološke postopke, ki nam omogočajo pripravo sodobnih naprednih živih celičnih in tkivnih zdravil za posameznega bolnika. Na ta način lahko ozdravimo bolezni, ki so posledica staranja ali poškodb tkiv (npr. bolezni sklepov) oziroma jih vsaj olajšamo, ali zmanjšamo hitrost njihovega napredovanja. Celične terapije pa lahko uporabimo tudi pri zdravljenju vnetnih bolezni, kjer je odziv našega imunskega sistema premočan in zato škodljiv za naš organizem, npr.  po presaditvi tkiv in organov ali pri Crohnovi bolezni.     The human body is made up of approximately 30 billion cells of 200 different types that perform a variety of, more or less specialized functions. Among them there are also cells that take care of repairing tissue damage and replacing old cells with new ones throughout our lives. After isolation from tissues, their regeneration potentials and various functional properties can be further stimulated or modified, as appropriate. Using various biotechnological procedures we are able to prepare advanced living cellular and tissue medicinal products for each individual patient. In this way, we can either cure diseases that are result of aging or tissue damage (e.g. joint diseases) or at least alleviate or reduce the rate of their progression. Additionally, such cell therapies can also be used to treat inflammatory diseases, where the response of our immune system is too strong and therefore harmful to our body, for example following tissue and organ transplantation, and in Crohn's disease.







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Črpamo iz narave

    

Extracting from nature
Narava je neločljivo povezana z našim življenjem že vse od prazgodovine. Rastline so ljudje najprej uporabljali kot hrano, pri tem pa spoznavali, da so nekatere strupene in nekatere zdravilne. Zdravilne rastline so pomembno vlogo v medicini in farmaciji ohranile do danes in jo z napredkom znanja še krepijo. Predstavljajo pomemben vir bioaktivnih spojin, ki jih vgrajujemo na primer v zdravila, prehranska dopolnila in kozmetične izdelke. Na Katedri za farmacevtsko biologijo se v okviru farmakognozije in fitoterapije ukvarjamo z ekstrakcijo in izolacijo bioaktivnih spojin iz rastlin, s pripravo rastlinskih izvlečkov in njihovo fitokemijsko karakterizacijo ter ugotavljanjem njihovih bioloških učinkov. Pri tem uporabljamo klasične ekstrakcijske metode in sodobne, trajnostno naravnane tehnologije, kot sta ekstrakciji s superkritičnim CO2 in subkritično vodo. Primer izjemnega raziskovalnega dela, ki smo ga uspešno nadgradili s povezovanjem s slovenskim gospodarstvom, je izvleček vej bele jelke, ki je danes na tržišču kot sestavina prehranskih dopolnil in kozmetičnih izdelkov.     Nature has been intrinsically linked to our lives since prehistoric times. Plants were first used as food by humans who realised that some were poisonous and others medicinal. Medicinal plants have maintained an important role in medicine and pharmacy. That role is even more relevant today with the advancement of knowledge. Plants represent an important source of bioactive compounds that are incorporated into, for example, medicines, food supplements and cosmetic products. At the Chair of Pharmaceutical biology, our research work in the areas of pharmacognosy and phytotherapy involves the extraction and isolation of bioactive plant compounds, the preparation of plant extracts and their phytochemical characterisation, and the determination of their biological effects. We use classical extraction methods and modern, sustainable technologies, such as extractions with supercritical CO2 and subcritical water. An example of exceptional research work, which was successfully supplemented by linking with the Slovenian economic sector, is the extract obtained from silver fir branches, which is found on the market today as an ingredient in food supplements and cosmetics.







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Oblikujemo bolniku prijazna zdravila

    

Designing patient-friendly medicines

 
Z razvojem novih bolnikom prijaznih zdravil pripomoremo k večji individualizaciji zdravljenja za zagotavljanje večje učinkovitosti in varnosti. Potreba po prilagajanju zdravljenja posameznemu bolniku je še posebej izrazita pri otrocih in starostnikih. Otroci potrebujejo manjše odmerke, pomembno pa je tudi, da je zdravilo v obliki, ki jo otroci  čim lažje zaužijejo. Starostniki se pogosto podvrženi več boleznim, ki zahtevajo jemanje večjega števila zdravil večkrat na dan. Pri starostnikih so pogosto prisotne tudi težave pri požiranju, slabše motorične sposobnosti, vid ali spomin. Zato na Katedri za farmacevtsko tehnologijo razvijamo prijazne oblike zdravil, ki so enostavnejše za požiranje in so bodisi ustrezno majhne (pelete, mini tablete), ali pa razpadejo v ustih (oralni filmi). Za otroke razvijamo zanimive in enostavne slamice. Sodelovanje bolnikov skušamo izboljšati tudi s farmacevtskimi oblikami, ki omogočajo podaljšano sproščanje in posledično manj pogosto jemanje, vsebujejo več različnih zdravilnih učinkovin v enem zdravilu (pelete v kapsuli) ali se aplicirajo na kožo za lokalno ali sistemsko zdravljenje.     By developing new patient-friendly medicines, we are helping to increase the individualization of treatment to ensure greater efficiency and safety. The need to tailor treatment to the individual patient is particularly pronounced in children and the elderly. Children require lower doses than adults, and the dosage form of the medicine is also essential to make it as easy to swallow as possible. Elderly people, on the other hand, often face a larger amount of medication that they take several times a day. Problems with medication can also include the inability to swallow, reduced eyesight or poor memory. Therefore, at the Chair of Pharmaceutical Technology we develop advanced forms of medicines that are appropriately small (pellets, mini tablets), easy and appealing to use for children (straws), or those that disintegrate in the mouth (oral films). We also try to improve patient compliance by developing drug delivery systems that allow prolonged-release and consequently less frequent applications, contain several different active ingredients in one drug (pellets in a capsule), or are applied to the skin for local or systemic treatment.







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Uporabljamo najsodobnejšo raziskovalno opremo

    

Working with state-of-the-art equipment
Na Fakulteti za farmacijo postavljamo sodobno raziskovalno infrastrukturo, ki bo spodbujala vrhunske inovacije pri razvoju zdravil. Najsodobnejša raziskovalna oprema omogoča hitro in poglobljeno analizo majhnih in velikih molekul ter njihovo vrednotenje tako v raztopini kot na bioloških celičnih modelih. Sodobna oprema in povezovanje v okviru Inštituta za farmacijo predstavlja močno orodje, ki lahko podpira številne projekte odkrivanja zdravil od sinteze učinkovin in načrtovanja farmacevtskih oblik do njihovega pred-kliničnega vrednotenja. S pomočjo evropskih kohezijskih sredstev je Fakulteta za farmacijo pridobila sredstva, s katerimi je razširila nabor velike raziskovalne opreme. Uporaba naprednejših raziskovalnih tehnik, ki jih oprema omogoča, bo pripomogla k razvoju farmacevtskih znanosti ter izpopolnila k bolniku usmerjeno zdravljenje.      At the Faculty of Pharmacy, we are establishing advanced research infrastructure, which will encourage outstanding innovations in drug development. State-of-the-art research equipment enables fast and in-depth analysis of small and large molecules and their evaluation both in solutions as well as in biological cell models. Advanced equipment and networking within the Institute of Pharmacy provide powerful tools that can support many drug discovery projects, ranging from drug synthesis and formulation design to pre-clinical studies. With the financial support of European cohesion funds, the Faculty of Pharmacy was able to expand the range of large research equipment. The utilisation of cutting-edge research techniques, provided by such infrastructure, will contribute to the advancement of pharmaceutical sciences and improve personalized treatment. 







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Z nanozdravili dosegamo boljše učinke

    

Nanomedicines are an important research
Nanozdravila, s katerimi se ukvarjamo na Katedri za farmacevtsko tehnologijo, temeljijo na nanodostavnih sistemih, ki prav zaradi svoje majhne velikosti omogočajo učinkovitejše in varnejše zdravljenje. Pomembna so zlasti pri zdravljenju raka, kjer nanodelci omogočajo specifično ciljanje in dostavo učinkovin v rakave celice. Takšno dostavo lahko omogočimo z vezavo ligandov, kot so npr. specifična protitelesa, na nanodelce ali z magnetno odzivnimi nanodostavni sistem, ki jih lahko z magnetom vodimo do tumorja.
Med nanozdravila pa spadajo tudi nanovlakna, ki zaradi svoje unikatne morfologije predstavljajo izredno obetaven material v farmaciji. Že sama topografija nanovlaken lahko izboljša pritrjanje, deljenje in mobilnost različnih vrst celic, kar omogoča učinkovito regeneracijo tkiv in nakazuje na njihovo uporabnost v tkivnem inženirstvu in sodobnih oblogah za celjenje kroničnih ran. Izredno primerna so tudi za lokalno zdravljenje npr. parodontalne bolezni, saj jih lahko namestimo v obzobne žepe, kjer je žarišče bolezni, in tako dosežemo učinkovito antibiotično in/ali probiotično zdravljenje. 		   Nanomedicines are an important research area of the Chair of Pharmaceutical Technology and are based on nanodelivery systems, which enable more efficient and safer treatment due to their small size. They are essential in cancer treatment, where nanoparticles allow specific targeting and delivery of active ingredients to cancer cells. Such delivery is feasible by binding ligands such as e.g. specific antibodies to nanoparticles or by a magnetically responsive nanodelivery system that can be magnetically guided to the tumor.
Nanomedicines also include nanofibers, which due to their unique morphology represent a remarkable material in pharmacy. The nanofiber topography itself can improve the attachment, division, and mobility of different cell types, enabling efficient tissue regeneration and promising efficiency in tissue engineering and modern dressings for chronic wounds. In addition, they are incredibly suitable for local treatment, e.g., periodontal diseases, as they can be placed in the periodontal pockets and thus achieve effective antibiotic and / or probiotic treatment.






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Spremljamo usodo zdravil v okolju

    

Monitoring the fate of drugs in the environment
Zdravila se po jemanju lahko izločijo v aktivni obliki iz telesa v okolje, kjer pa kljub velikemu faktorju redčitve zaradi stalne prisotnosti lahko povzročajo neželene učinke v netarčnih organizmih, npr. ribah; povzročajo odpornost bakterij na antibiotike, sumi pa se, da vplivajo tudi na človeka, ker iz onesnaženih površinskih voda vstopajo v podtalne vode, ki je vir pitne vode. Na Katedri za biofarmacijo in farmakokinetiko  raziskujemo napredne nove tehnologije za odstranjevanje zdravilnih učinkovin iz odpadnih vod za zmanjšanje obremenitve okolja. Več lahko preberete v prispevku. 
Osrednji cilj projekta LAKTIKA je izkoristiti potencial sirotke kot neizkoriščenega snovnega toka živilske industrije in zmanjšati obremenitev okolja, saj približno polovica sirotke konča v čistilnih napravah ali vodotokih, kjer predstavlja resen ekološki problem. Z uvedbo naprednih postopkov izolacije, karakterizacije in oplemenitenja posameznih sirotkinih proteinov bodo laktoferin in ostali potencialni terapevtski proteini osnova za oblikovanje inovativnih prehranskih dopolnil.		     Medicines can be excreted from the body in active form into the environment. Despite a large dilution factor, and due to their constant presence, they can cause adverse effects in non-target organisms, e.g. fish. They can cause bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and are also suspected to affect humans because they enter groundwater, which is a source of our drinking water. At the Chair of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, we are studying advanced new technologies for the removal of active ingredients from wastewater to reduce the burden on the environment. More information can be found here. 
The main goal of the LAKTIKA project is to exploit the potential of whey as an unexploited resource of the food industry, and reduce its burden on the environment, as about half of whey ends up in treatment plants or watercourses, where it poses a serious ecological problem. By using advanced processes for the isolation, characterization and refinement of individual whey proteins, lactoferrin and other potential therapeutic proteins will be the basis for the design of innovative food supplements.



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Spremljamo usodo zdravil v telesu

    

Imitating the fate of drugs in the body
V telesu potekajo kompleksni procesi, ki vplivajo na obnašanje zdravil po zaužitju in tako tudi na njihovo delovanje. Poznavanje in vključitev teh procesov v laboratorijske modele je ključno tudi pri načrtovanju zdravil. Na Katedri za biofarmacijo in farmakokinetiko smo razvili svoj sistem za testiranje raztapljanja z namenom ponazarjanja peristaltičnega gibanja v želodcu. Osnovna enota sistema je čaša, v kateri je določen volumen tekočine, ki ponazarja medij v želodcu. Z dodatkom steklenih kroglic v čašo, ki jih meša magnet, smo ustvarili specifično gibanje, ki ponazarja peristaltiko. Gibanje tablete ali kapsule na površini plasti kroglic je podobno njenemu gibanju v želodcu, s črpanjem tekočine iz čaše pa posnemamo prehod učinkovine iz želodca naprej po prebavni cevi. Kljub temu, da s sistemom ponazorimo le nekatere procese, ki potekajo v prebavnem traktu, smo uporabnost sistema pokazali pri mnogih sodelovanjih s farmacevtsko industrijo, s čimer smo pripomogli k hitrejšemu razvoju zdravil.
    
In the human body, complex processes take place which affect the behavior of medicine after ingestion and thus also their action. Knowledge of these processes and their inclusion in different laboratory models is vital for the development of new medicines. At the Chair of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, we developed a dissolution system that mimics peristaltic movement in the stomach. The basic unit of the system is a beaker with a certain volume of fluid that simulates the gastric medium. A layer of glass beads is added to the system that is stirred by a magnetic stirring bar. In dissolution experiments, a tablet or capsule is in contact with the surface of the glass beads layer; because of the stirring, a typical movement in the beaker is achieved, which is similar to the tablet’s movement in the stomach. Transfer of drug from the stomach into the following parts of the intestine is simulated by pumping the fluid from the beaker. Although only a few processes, occurring in the human gastrointestinal tract, can be mimicked using this system, we demonstrated its usefulness in several collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry. That way we helped to accelerate the development of new medicines.





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Zdravljenje z zdravili prilagajamo pacientom

    

Adapting treatments to patients
Lekarniška dejavnost, ki v središče postavlja pacienta, je pospešila razvoj programov farmacevtske skrbi in storitev klinične farmacije. Osrednjo vlogo farmacevta pri zdravljenju z zdravili dokazujejo storitve, osnovane na pregledu zdravil. Na tem področju je napredek v Sloveniji velik: storitve so vpeljane v zakonodaji, se razvijajo in izvajajo v praksi. Vpeljali smo storitev pregled uporabe zdravil, ki opolnomoči pacienta pri zdravljenju z zdravili, ter storitev farmakoterapijski pregled, ki optimizira zdravljenje z zdravili. Razvijamo storitve brezšivne skrbi, ki preprečujejo napake v zdravljenju z zdravili pri prehodu med različnimi ravnmi zdravstvenega varstva. Uspešna implementacija in zagotavljanje kakovosti storitev sta neločljivo povezani z ustrezno raziskovalno podporo, ki ovrednoti zdravstvene izide kot tudi poglede in mnenja vseh deležnikov v sistemu. Tu je neprecenljiva vloga Fakultete za farmacijo.     Patient-centred pharmacy services fostered the implementation of pharmaceutical care programmes and clinical pharmacy activities. The central role pharmacists have in medication management is most evident in medication review services. In Slovenia, major advances were recently made, such as the definition of medication review activities, their development and integration in everyday clinical practice. Pharmacy services such as medication use review that empowers patients in medication use, and medication review that aids physicians in medication optimisation, have been introduced. Seamless care is being developed to prevent medication errors at healthcare interfaces. For a successful implementation of new pharmacy services and to safeguard their quality, these activities have to be supported by rigorous research. This is where the Faculty of Pharmacy plays a central role.






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Proučujemo vpliv zdravil na družbo 

    

Studying the impact of medications on society 
Na Katedri za socialno farmacijo med drugim razvijamo področje farmakoepidemiologije. Z razvojem tehnologije in velikih baz podatkov nam farmakoepidemiologija danes omogoča izvajanje raziskav na zelo velikih populacijah, tudi več milijonih oseb. S takimi raziskavami lahko pridobimo boljši vpogled v neželene učinke zdravil, vrednotimo izide terapij ob sočasni uporabi drugih zdravil in proučujemo specifične skupine prebivalstva, kot so bolniki z redkimi boleznimi, starejši, otroci ali nosečnice. Vrednotimo lahko tudi učinke zdravil po več letih ali celo desetletjih uporabe. Ustrezna analiza takih bogatih zbirk podatkov lahko v prihodnosti pomembno doprinese k optimizaciji zdravljenja z zdravili, kar prinaša koristi tako za pacienta kot tudi za zdravstveni sistem. Pri tem pa se bo treba soočiti s številnimi izzivi, ki jih tako imenovani množični podatki (Big Data) prinašajo.     One of the main research topics at the Chair of Social Pharmacy is Pharmacoepidemiology. With the development of technology and database analysis, modern pharmacoepidemiology enables the study of very large populations, including millions of people. Such studies therefore allow for a better understanding of adverse effects, evaluation of concomitant therapies, and the study of specific populations such as patients with rare diseases, older adults, children or pregnant women. We can also explore the effects of medications after several years or even decades of use. Appropriate data analysis of such rich databases can significantly contribute to the optimization of pharmacotherapy in the future, which brings benefit to the patients and the healthcare system. Nevertheless, important challenges will have to be addressed when implementing these new technologies into practice.



Fotografije:  Peter Škrlep
Ilustracije:   mag. Marija Nabernik