Work Package 1: BARRIER

In the early development of medicines, it is essential to estimate the product performance with reliable and predictive in vitro models. The outcome from such in vitro studies should be valid for fast translation into clinical relevance fulfilling the patient’s needs.

In the WP1, we aim to design and apply in vitro barrier models resembling the variable barriers in the human body investigating barrier properties, transporters, solute carriers and enzymes. These barriers may be cell based mimicking epithelial or endothelial barriers. Or, they may be physico-chemical barriers estimating drug release, local concentrations or interactions with physiological constituents such as mucus or colloidal structures.

The design of these in vitro models will be based on physiological-based knowledge, computational design and simulation of flow patterns in restricted geometries, followed by the actual barrier investigations. In these models, the drug transfer across and within these barriers are characterized using diverse analytical tools, as well as high-resolution imaging and synchrotron-based methods.

Validity of these models will be preclinically tested by in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in animals.  We aim to develop the future predictive barriers of pharmaceutical science.