Dr Asma Buanz

Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Engineering (NGU)

Pharmaceutics

UCL School of Pharmacy

Joined UCL: 1st Nov 2018

Research summary

Research interests:

Novel techniques for engineering drug delivery systems (e.g inkjet and 3D printing)
Advanced characterisation of pharmaceuticals (e.g thermal analysis, spectroscopy and combined techniques)
Crystallisation in confinement

Current projects:

Fabrication of electrospun nanofibers loaded with bioactive molecules for treating neurological disorders
Formulating poorly soluble drugs as amorphous solid dispersions to enhance bioavailability; a novel mixed carrier approach - PhD project funded via the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Advanced Therapeutics and Nanomedicines.
Characterisation of Pharmaceuticals with in situ Differential Scanning Calorimetry-synchrotron X-ray diffraction (DSC-PXRD)

Past projects

Interdisciplinary collaborative research

Developed a novel approach to crystallise and characterise metastable polymorphic forms using inkjet printing as part of a three-centre EPSRC's funded project "Computationally Designed Templates for Exquisite Control of Polymorphic Form"

Worked on developing pharmaceutical applications of a prototype fast scan DSC (Project RHC) in collaboration with TA Instruments (Waters Corporation)- world leader in developing thermal analysis techniques- during MSc project entitled 'Characterisation of Pharmaceutical Polymorphs with Rapid-Heating Differential Scanning Calorimetry'

Other research

Developed a successful approach to utilise thermal inkjet printing to prepare oral films for personalised dosing and crystal engineering of co-crystals during PhD study

3D Printing for Pharmaceutical Applications

Teaching summary

Programme Co-Director - MSc in Pharmaceutical Formulation and Entrepreneurship

Teaching on the MSc in Pharmaceutics and MSc in Pharmaceutical Formulation and Entrepreneurship course:

Tutorials and Research Skills workshops
Preformulation module.
Nanomedicine module.

MPharm Year 2 'Medicines from the bench to the clinic' module.

MPharm Year 3 'Industrial Pharmacy' option (Deputy module lead)

MPharm Year 3 'Physiological Gender Differences and Common Diseases in Women' option

MPharm Year 4 'Advancing Practice Through Science" option'

PG Diploma in Pharmaceutical Quality and Regulation

Education

University College London: Other Postgraduate qualification (including professional), ATQ03 - Recognised by the HEA as a Fellow | 2018
University College London: Other Postgraduate qualification (including professional), ATQ02 - Recognised by the HEA as an Associate Fellow | 2016
University College London: Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy | 2014
School of Pharmacy, University of London: Other higher degree, Master of Science | 2009
: First Degree, Bachelor of Science | 2003

Biography

Dr. Asma Buanz is a Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Engineering at UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London. She holds a PhD in Pharmaceutics and an MSc in Drug Delivery both from UCL School of Pharmacy, and a Bachelor degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benghazi. Dr Buanz is a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).