Solid state characterization of HIV drugs: rational design of new crystalline forms

• Grant number: 10/19929-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - Brazil
• Duration: March 01, 2011 - May 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Javier Alcides Ellena
• Grantee: Javier Alcides Ellena
• Visiting researcher: Alejandro Pedro Ayala
• Visiting researcher institution: Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC). Centro de Ciências, Brazil
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project is focused to the synthesis of new crystalline forms of drugs used in the anti-HIV therapy, followed by the characterization of their solid state physical and chemical properties. These drugs will be subject of crystallization essays in order to obtain new crystalline forms with tailored pharmacokinetic properties. The produced crystalline forms will be characterized by optical and electronic microscopy, powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, as well as dissolution and solubility assays. This proposal is part of a multidisciplinary international research project involving a network of professional with expertise in pharmacology, pharmacy, chemistry and physics. In this context, the aim of the visit of Prof. Dr. Alejandro Pedro Ayala from the Physics Departament of the Federal University of Ceará is to consolidate the new experimental techniques installed in our laboratory. On the other hand, Prof. Ayala will be familiarized with the X-ray diffraction methods, mainly those focused to polycrystalline samples, because his laboratory has recently acquired an equipment for this kind of measurements. It is also important to point out that there is long-term collaboration between our research groups including not only common scientific publications but also the joint coordination of international collaboration projects and organization of two scientific meeting in the field of the proposed research project. (AU)