Microneedles for transdermal delivery of long-acting biologics

About the project

About the Project Long‑acting delivery of biologic therapeutics is widely recognised as a major unmet need in modern healthcare. Biologic drugs, including peptides, proteins and nucleic acid‑based medicines, are increasingly used to treat chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative conditions and metabolic disorders. However, their clinical impact is often limited by the need for frequent injections, which increases patient burden, reduces adherence and places pressure on healthcare systems worldwide. This PhD project aims to develop ultra‑long‑acting drug delivery systems capable of delivering biologic therapeutics in a controlled manner over weeks or months from a single administration. The overarching goal is to enable sustained, patient‑friendly delivery of biologics using clinically realistic and scalable pharmaceutical technologies. The project is based on a novel materials platform developed within the group, which functions as a pharmaceutical excipient with exceptionally high drug‑loading capacity and controllable release behaviour. This platform is compatible with multiple dosage forms, including transdermal and implantable delivery systems. Using this technology, controlled release of a small‑molecule drug for up to two months has already been demonstrated. This PhD will extend the platform to biologic therapeutics, addressing key challenges associated with macromolecular stability, formulation, and long‑term release control. The PhD will be conducted within a clearly defined research framework in drug delivery and formulation science. The specific biologic therapeutic and target disease area will be agreed collaboratively with the supervisory team at an early stage of the project, ensuring a focused, tractable and deliverable PhD aligned with the student’s academic background and long‑term career objectives. Depending on the chosen project direction, the PhD may involve: Design and optimisation of ultra‑long‑acting formulations for biologic drugs Development of transdermal or implantable delivery systems Pharmaceutical and physicochemical characterisation of formulations In vitro and preclinical evaluation of drug release, stability and performance Assessment of safety, biocompatibility and translational potential A central motivation underpinning this work is to improve patient experience and treatment adherence. By significantly reducing the need for frequent injections, the technologies developed in this project have the potential to support more sustainable healthcare delivery and improve quality of life for patients with chronic conditions. Training and Research Environment You will join a well‑established multidisciplinary research team spanning pharmaceutical science, materials science and engineering, based across the School of Pharmacy, the School of Engineering and the Translational and Clinical Research Institute at Newcastle University. The project is embedded within an active, internationally visible research environment with access to state‑of‑the‑art formulation, characterisation and pharmaceutical testing facilities. Training will be tailored to the individual student and is expected to include formulation science, advanced drug delivery systems, materials characterisation, pharmaceutical analysis and experimental evaluation. The project is designed to generate high‑quality, publishable research outputs. In addition, students will develop transferable skills in research planning, scientific writing and data interpretation that are directly applicable to academic and pharmaceutical industry careers internationally. There may also be opportunities to engage with clinicians, patients and industry partners, providing exposure to translational research and healthcare applications. Candidate Profile Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a first‑class or 2:1 honours degree (or international equivalent) in pharmaceutical science, biomedical science, chemical engineering, materials science or a closely related discipline. A Masters degree or prior laboratory research experience would be advantageous but is not essential. This project is particularly suitable for candidates supported by overseas government scholarship schemes who seek advanced training in drug delivery and formulation science within a structured PhD framework at a research‑intensive UK university.

Research areas