(6jv) From Macromolecular Science to the Skin Barrier: Engineering Novel Platforms for Transdermal Drug Delivery

Research Interests: In the coming years, I intend to extend my research on the development of different transdermal drug delivery methods in order to more precisely gain a comprehensive view of an individual’s health state at molecular levels and provide deep and high-level interfaces for creating biocompatible and biodegradable materials onto the skin. Particular challenge in this field is that human skin is intrinsically complicated and acts as a strong barrier for external transportation of any molecules. In overcoming skin's barrier, we need to explore a variety of engineering challenges to increase skin permeability in order to develop more methods designed to enhance and embellish it. Starting with my background in transdermal drug delivery, the following methods are my future plans:

(a) The study of hot melt extrusion processes for transdermal patch development

Recently, there has been a growing interest towards the use of transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS). My future plan is to overcome formidable barrier that can limit permeation of therapeutic agents as a great challenge by the skin. Therefore, my plan is to use my background studies in my PhD to develop hot melt extrusion technology (HME) to prepare these TDDS which has the potential to generate considerable interest in the pharmaceutical field. Briefly, this work combines these interests through preparation of several hot melt extruded formulations screened for their potential for transdermal development. So far, we have determined processing parameters (temperature, heating duration and mixing speed) for preparing hot melt extruded compositions comprising model drug such as clotirmazole and various carrier excipients can be established with minimal thermal degradation.

(b) The study of electrospinning processes for transdermal patch development

Electrospinning is the method for preparing drug-loaded nanofibers with ultrafine structure, a large surface area to volume ratio, and a high porosity with a small pore size. My second plan is to develop electrospinning method as a most cost effective one with simple and easy use operation tools which is applicable to produce ultrafine fibers with a simple step-up production for transdermal drug delivery applications. During my PhD and postdoc, I worked on the fabrication, advantages and limitations for topical/transdermal drug delivery applications. The combination of my background with the deep understanding of polymeric materials for drug delivery application can open up a new avenue for the transportation of drugs, vaccine and proteins into the skin.

(c) The study of diagnostic haptic patches that continuously monitor physiological markers from sweat

Innovations in mobile and electronic healthcare are revolutionizing the involvement of both doctors and patients in the modern healthcare system by extending the capabilities of physiological monitoring devices. My third goal is to provide flexible and comfortable wearable patches for patients, which is one of the keys for patient acceptance. There are many devices already on the market for fitness and wellness that use consumer-facing applications which can be easily incorporated into clinical practice. However, the chemical detection of diseases from sweat and not only from blood or interstitial fluids can create more interest for future skin sensors.

Teaching Interests: Much of my teaching experience was gained from the Chemical Engineering Department of Urmia University of Technology as a faculty member. I taught Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics courses for undergraduate students. While my teaching focuses on the chemical engineering field, my teaching interests are much broader. At Case Western Reserve University, I transitioned into Macromolecular Science and Engineering field and gained interdisciplinary experience teaching courses in polymer physics, polymer chemistry and polymer processing topics in addition to chemical engineering core courses such as transport phenomena, and advanced thermodynamics that were new to me and outside of the field of my primary education. Beside my background experiences, my teaching philosophy was influenced by my participation in future faculty programs at both Georgia Institute of Technology and Case Western Reserve University. My teaching philosophy, which focuses on creating an inclusive learning environment, preparing students to serve diverse communities, and developing evidence-based teaching, enables me to meet your needs by taking a) an interdisciplinary approach in my work, b) maintaining an ongoing commitment to teaching, and c) deeply involving students in research.

The following abstracts have been accepted for an oral presentation at the 2018 AIChE Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, PA.

Session: Drug Delivery II: Small Molecules
Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Session Time: 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Presentation Title: Electrospun Patch for Transdermal Delivery of Contraceptive Hormone
Presentation Time: 2:18 PM - 2:36 PM
Location: Westin Convention Center, Cambria

Session: Drug Delivery III: Systems for Administration
Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Session Time: 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Presentation Title: Design, Structure, Material Strength of Dissolvable Microneedle Patch Vaccine Delivery Systems: From Fabrication to Characterization of Microscale Transdermal Patches
Presentation Time: 4:24 PM - 4:42 PM
Location: Westin Convention Center, Cambria

Publications:

• Mofidfar M., Prausnitz M. R. (2018) Electrospun Transdermal Patches for Contraceptive Hormone Delivery, under review.
• Mofidfar M., Wang J., Long L., Hager L. C., Vareechon C., Pearlman E., Baer E., Ghannoum M., Wnek G. E (2016) Polymeric Nanofiber/Antifungal Formulations Using a Novel Co-extrusion Approach, AAPS PharmSciTech.

Patents:

• Erol U. L., Akkus O., Weidenbecher M., Mofidfar M., (2018) A device for the construction and coating of tubular structures by spraying on a rotating mandrel, Patent Application No. US20180133950 A1.
• Baer E., Wnek G. E., Mofidfar M., Wang J., (2017) Polymer fiber scaffolds and uses thereof, Patent Application No. WO2017041109 A1.