The Faculty of Pharmacy discussed the PhD dissertation, tagged” Preparation and Evaluation of Nanoparticles incorporated into Microneedles Site Specific for Breast Using Anastrozole as a Model Drug” by Kamil Kareem Atiyah Altameemi and his supervisor, Professor Dr. Shaimaa Nizar Abd-Alhammid in the Pharmaceutics Department. The aim of the study was to examine the site specific administration of anastrozole for breast as an alternative to the oral route. In order to accomplish this purpose, polymeric nanoparticles of anastrozole were incorporated into dissolving microneedles to promote their skin absorption. Enhance patient compliance while avoiding anastrozole’s first-pass metabolism. Additionally, the impact of formulation parameters on the characteristics of the polymeric nanoparticles and dissolving microneedles was studied. The dissertation involved the method of preparing polymeric nanoparticles (using different polymers and different types of stabilizers in different ratios). The physical properties, morphological properties, and factors affecting the prepared polymeric nanoparticles were studied. The best chosen polymeric nanoparticle formula loaded into dissolving microneedles (prepared by using different water-soluble polymers and plasticizers) was assessed in terms of their morphology, mechanical strength, drug content, percent moisture absorbed or lost, permeation enhancement, and histological study.Results indicated that anastrozole polymeric nanoparticles were successfully manufactured in nanosize particles with relatively high entrapping efficiency and loaded into dissolving microneedles of adequate mechanical strength to penetrate the stratum corneum and increase the amount of anastrozole permeating through it to induce good delivery to breast tissue via an alternate mode of administration and improve patient compliance.
