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E-mail Publications and Presentations
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Paul
Bummer Associate Professor Director of Graduate Studies Pharmaceutical Sciences
Area of Graduate Study Drug Delivery and Formulation
Dr. Bummer's research centers around interfacial activity and structure of various surfaces of pharmaceutical interest. Surfaces such as glass, polymers and the air/water interface are all known to denature proteins of therapeutic value, resulting in loss of biological activity and particulate formation. Research efforts are designed to determine the mechanisms of the denaturation and to study formulation strategies capable of stabilizing these products. Unit operations of industrial-scale separations in biotechnology are extremely expensive.
Growing out of an interest in proteins at interfaces is a new line of research in using foam fractionation as a means of separation and purification of proteins on a production level. Foam is a very concentrated air/water interface with very little aqueous content. Molecules that are very surface active adhere to the interface, allowing less surface-active molecules to drain back to the bulk phase. Rapid collection and breaking of the foamphase results in separation and recovery of the more surface-active component. Of course, this must be done in such a way as to minimize the denaturing effects of the interface.
Results of this research are intended to decrease the cost of production of biotechnology-derived therapeutic entities. Physical activity of proteins at surfaces of biological interest is also under investigation. In particular, the molecular mechanisms by which serum proteins diminish the activity of lung surfactant are being studies. Results of this research will directly benefit in the design of new surfactant therapies employed in the treatment of respiratory distress syndromes and perhaps even asthma. |
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