The research group Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology belongs to the University of Barcelona (UB) and it is ascribed to the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences. The members of the research team belong to the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, and Physical-Chemistry. The research group is leaded by María José García Celma. The team is a part of the Consolidated Group on Surfactants and Colloidal Systems (2021SGR00503), recognized by the Government of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya), since 1994 and the Consolidated Group on Natural polyphenols and other bioactive components present in foods (2021 SGR 00334). The UB team is a R+D Associated Unit to the Spanish Research Council (CSIC), entitled “Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology” leaded by Dr. García Celma. Members of the team belong to the QCI group in the Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), since January 2008 and to the CB12/03/30020 group in the Networking Research Center on Pathophysiology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBER-OBN). All the members of the research team belong to the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB) and Dr. García Celma is a member of the managing board.
The research interests of the group have focused on the development of novel controlled drug delivery dosage forms based on nanostructured surfactant and polymeric systems. Important contributions are the studies on formation and characterization of hydrogels, microemulsions, nano-emulsions, highly concentrated emulsions, water-in-water emulsions, liquid crystal-based formulations as drug carriers and the use of some of these colloidal systems as templates for the preparation of nanoparticles and solid foams. Incorporation, release of drugs and other active compounds and biomolecules, and skin permeation (ex vivo studies) have been investigated in these nanostructured formulations. Long-acting drug delivery systems, triggered by in-situ phase transitions, for parenteral administration are also investigated. The effective incorporation of drugs and biomolecules can facilitate the therapy of various diseases or physiological disorders of high incidence in the population and/or difficult to treat. The group also has experience of working with experimental animals, such as rats and mice, to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of administered active ingredients and their effects, particularly their anti-inflammatory properties.