Areas of Expertise
Biopharmaceutics, formulation development of oral modified release systems and solid dispersions, thermal and mechanical analysis of small and large molecules including proteins and polymers.
Research mission statement
My research works towards bridging the physical and biological sciences in the field of pharmaceutics. For the effective design of oral, modified release dosage forms which behave in a reproducible manner, we need to have a clear understanding of the in vivo conditions to which they will be subjected. My current research collaborations with medical schools are enabling me to understand drug behavior in healthy individuals as well as patients. I am working on the fundamental characterization of the gastrointestinal mucosa and luminal environment and utilizing this knowledge in several different ways. First, to set up an in vitro drug release model which better simulates the dynamic and diverse nature of the gastrointestinal tract. Second, to design oral, modified release systems that have a more predictable performance in man and therefore display reduced interindividual variability.
Contributions: (published works or studies, conference presentations)
1. Gary Parkinson, Simon Gaisford, Qian Ru, Alastair Lockwood, Ashkan Khalili, Rose Sheridan, Peng T. Khaw, Steve Brocchini, Hala M. Fadda*. (2012) Characterisation of ilomastat for prolonged ocular drug release. AAPS PharmSciTech., In Press
2. Hala M. Fadda, Medha Khanna, Joana C. Santos, Dena Osman, Simon Gaisford, Abdul W. Basit. (2010) The use of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) to evaluate plasticization of acrylic polymers under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm., 76, 493-497
3. Hala M. Fadda, Tiago Sousa, Anders Carlsson, Bertil Abrahamsson, John G. Williams, Devinder Kumar, Abdul W. Basit. (2010) Drug solubility in luminal fluids from different regions of the small and large intestine of humans. Mol. Pharm., 7, 1527-1532
4. Hala M. Fadda, Hamid A. Merchant, Basel T. Arafat, Abdul W. Basit (2009) Physiological bicarbonate buffers: stabilisation and use as dissolution media for modified release systems. Int. J. Pharm., 382, 56-60
5. Hala M. Fadda, Emma L. McConnell, Michael D. Short, Abdul W. Basit (2009). Meal-induced acceleration of tablet transit through the human small intestine. Pharm. Res., 26, 356-360
6. Emma L. McConnell, Hala M. Fadda, Abdul W. Basit (2008) Gut instincts: Explorations in intestinal physiology and drug delivery. Int. J. Pharm., 364, 213-226
7. Hala M. Fadda, Mohamed A. M. Mohamed, Abdul W. Basit (2008) Impairment of the in vitro drug release behaviour of oral modified release preparations in the presence of alcohol. Int. J. Pharm., 360, 171-176
8. Valentine C. Ibekwe, Hala M. Fadda, Emma L. McConnell, Mandeep M. Khela, David F. Evans, Abdul W. Basit (2008). Interplay between pH, transit time and feed status on the in vivo performance of pH-responsive ileo-colonic release systems. Pharm. Res., 25, 1828-1835
9. Hala M. Fadda, Cristina Hernández, Daniel Margetson, Mark McAllister, Abdul W. Basit, Stephen Brocchini, Nery Suárez (2008). The molecular interactions that influence the plasticizer dependent dissolution of acrylic polymer films. J. Pharm. Sci. 97, 3957-3971
10. Valentine C. Ibekwe, Fang Liu, Hala M. Fadda, Mandeep M. Khela, David F. Evans, Gary Parsons, Abdul W. Basit (2006). An investigation into the in vivo performance variability of pH responsive polymers for ileo-colonic drug delivery using gamma scintigraphy in humans. J. Pharm. Sci. 95, 2760 - 2766
11. Valentine C. Ibekwe, Hala M. Fadda, Gary Parsons, Abdul W. Basit (2006). A comparative in vitro assessment of the drug release performance of pH-responsive polymers for ileo-colonic delivery. Int. J. Pharm. 308, 52-60
12. Hala M. Fadda and Abdul W. Basit (2005). Gastrointestinal tract: Obstacles or opportunities in drug targeting? Pharma, 1, 52-57
13. Hala M. Fadda and Abdul W. Basit (2005). Dissolution of pH responsive formulations in media resembling intestinal fluids: bicarbonate versus phosphate buffers. J. Drug Deliv. Sci. Technol. 15, 273-279
Butler Assignment (classes or work duties)
Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutics
PharmD courses taught
Rx 421: Introduction to Dosage Forms
Rx 422: Advanced Dosage Forms
Rx 634: Seminars in Pharmaceutical Sciences
MS Pharmaceutical Science courses taught:
Rx 786: Advanced Drug Delivery
Rx 787: Industrial Pharmacy - Formulation and Product Development
Rx 781: Seminars in Pharmaceutical Sciences