DISCO - Disorder in confined spaces: From molecular stabilization to amorphous drug formulation
Navn på bevillingshaver
Inês Catarina Batista Martins
Titel
Associate Professor
Institution
University of Copenhagen
Beløb
DKK 6,999,679
År
2025
Bevillingstype
Semper Ardens: Accelerate
Hvad?
Over 90% of drugs have poor water solubility, limiting their effectiveness in the body. While most drugs are made as stable, ordered structures (crystals), they work better in an amorphous (disordered) form. These amorphous forms, and polyamorphs (different disorders), dissolve more easily but are less stable. Finding ways to stabilize them could lead to more effective drug formulations.
Hvorfor?
Current methods to stabilize these disordered forms often use small molecules or polymers, but they still allow the drug to turn back into a crystal, losing its effectiveness. DISCO offers a new approach: by trapping the disordered forms inside tiny, biocompatible particles, we can prevent them from turning back into crystals, keeping their stability and preserving their ability to dissolve.
Hvordan?
The DISCO project will investigate how tiny biocompatible particles and their sizes affect the stability of drugs in different disordered forms. By understanding how these particles interact with the trapped drug to prevent it from forming crystals, DISCO will enable the rational design of better drug formulations for faster and more effective delivery of life-saving medicines.