Ranjita Shegokar Ph.D.

Dr. Ranjita Shegokar

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Dr. Ranjita Shegokar

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Research Area

Since last few decades, an evolution in drug delivery systems has been prominent trend in pharmaceutical research. Increasing clinical development costs, declining drug-discovery process, low clinical success rates, complexity of development cycle and impact of newer diseases like Covid-19 on economy and execution are negatively influencing the R & D pipeline. The search for novel, new or innovative drug delivery approaches is a rapidly increasing in the field. All the big pharma companies are already diverting and adapting their R & D strategy by selecting multifunctional therapeutic agents, innovating new target oriented drug delivery systems, repurposing generic drugs, and investing in robust drug product and intellectual property (IP) strategy.
To increase R&D efficiencies, is it very important to limit the portfolio risk and related cost. It is equally important to increase innovation potential internally and an openness to collaborative research externally with competent partners. The emergence of Nano and micro particle based drug delivery platforms greatly impacted value of R & D of drug pipeline, Nano and micro particle based drug delivery platforms offer several technical and strategic solution to above challenges. Nano and microparticle platforms not only offer unique chemical/physical properties to therapeutic drug but they also improve product performance thereby increasing the profitability and market sustainability.
2D printed medicines

2D-printed medicines are revolutionizing drug delivery by enabling accurate drug distribution, on-demand manufacturing, and the ability to combine multiple drugs without interaction. Using specialized printing devices, therapeutic agents are precisely deposited onto edible orodispersible films, allowing patient-specific dose customization. This approach enhances treatment efficacy and significantly improves patient compliance, particularly for those with difficulty swallowing conventional tablets.
(Shegokar et.al. – stavudine Lipospheres)

Oro-dispersible Films (ODFs)

These are thin, flexible drug delivery systems designed to dissolve quickly in the mouth without the need for water. They are particularly beneficial for patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets or capsules, such as pediatric, geriatric, or dysphagic patients. They make medication more effective locally and highly customizable. Mainly produced by solvent Casting (Shegokar et.al. – paracetamol suppositories)

Orally Disintegrating Tablets

ODTs dissolve quickly in the mouth without water, improving patient convenience and compliance. ODTs ensure rapid drug absorption, leading to faster onset of action, making them ideal for conditions like pain management, allergies, and neurological disorders. They are formulated using techniques like freeze-drying, direct compression, and sublimation to achieve fast disintegration.

(Shegokar et.al. – stavudine Lipospheres)

3D printed Tablets

3D-printed tablets and capsules offer high flexibility in drug delivery, allowing single or multiple-compartment drug dosing and treatment regimes. Drug release can be precisely controlled by incorporating various polymers or their combinations. The growing demand for personalized treatment and on-demand manufacturing at pharmacies by 3D printing provides clinicians and physicians greater flexibility in tailoring therapies to individual patient needs.
(Shegokar et.al. – stavudine Lipospheres)

Hotmelt extrusion

HME is a manufacturing technique used to develop solid dispersions, granules of drugs in polymer matrices, enhancing solubility and bioavailability. HME enables controlled drug release, eliminates the need for solvents, and improves the stability of poorly water-soluble drugs. This process is widely used in sustained-release formulations, taste masking, and 3D-printed pharmaceuticals. (Shegokar et.al. – paracetamol suppositories)

Oral solid dosage forms (OSDFs)

They include tablets, capsules, powders, and granules, each designed for specific drug delivery needs. OSDs offer controlled drug release options, such as immediate, extended, or delayed release, improving therapeutic efficacy. They are highly stable with a long shelf life, making them ideal for large-scale production and distribution.

(Shegokar et.al. – stavudine Lipospheres)

Drug device combination

Drug-device combinations are innovative medical products that integrate both a drug and a device in a single unit, designed to deliver the drug efficiently and accurately. These combinations ensure precise drug delivery, often allowing for controlled release or targeted therapy. The development of drug-device combinations is driven by the demand for personalized treatments and improved patient compliance.
(Shegokar et.al. – stavudine Lipospheres)

Mucoadhesive DDS

Mucoadhesive systems are designed to adhere to mucosal surfaces (such as the oral, nasal, or vaginal mucosa) to prolong drug retention and enhance local or systemic absorption. These systems utilize mucoadhesive polymers that bind to mucus, ensuring controlled and sustained drug release. They improve bioavailability by bypassing first-pass metabolism and allowing drugs to be absorbed directly through mucosal membranes. (Shegokar et.al. – paracetamol suppositories)

Pediatric suppositories

The rectal route is a good alternative to the oral route for pediatric patients. New advances like use of mucoadhesive gels, sustained release polymers and use of microparticles enhances the drug effect. The overall cost of product manufacturing and life cycle management is very low
(Shegokar et.al. – stavudine Lipospheres)

Lipospheres
Lipospheres are lipid micro particles in size range of 0.2 to 100 µm, composed of solid hydrophobic fat matrix in which the bioactive compound are dissolved or dispersed. Lipospheres offers advantage of good physical stability, low cost of ingredients and ease of preparation and scale up.
(Shegokar et.al. – stavudine Lipospheres)
Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs)

SLNs are modified to the nano-structured lipid carriers (NLCs) by adapting the matrix by addition of liquid lipid . The enhanced matrix structure offers increased loading, minimal drug leakage and long terms stability. Shegokar et.al. reports NLCs for various antioxidants.

Microbicides

Microbicides are dosage forms which contains drugs that prevent vaginal and/or rectal transmission of HIV and/or sexually transmitted infections. Stavudine microbicidal gels proved to have optimal antimicrobial, spermicidal and anti-HIV activity.
(Shegokar et.al. – stavudine microbicidal gels)

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs)

The lipid nanoparticles were developed as alternative to traditional carriers such as polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes. They are being explored for dermal, mucosal, oral, intravenous/ parenteral, pulmonary and ocular route by many research group across the world. Large scale production and splenic targeting of surface modified SLNs is reported by Shegokar et.al.

Nanocrystals

Poor solubility of new drugs and their related low oral bioavailability and general delivery problems are becoming a major challenge. Nanocrystals being a kind of “universal” formulation approach for these molecules are reviewed in many papers by Shegokar et.al., regarding the industrial feasibility, production processes (bottom-up and top-down technologies), regulatory aspects, nanotoxicology and drug targeting.
 

Metal Nanoparticles

Metal nanoparticles are being applied in a variety of medical and nonmedical areas. To confer multifunctionality and enhance safety, these metal nanoparticles are often encapsulated using polymers or lipids. This chapter overviews metal nanoparticles, their encapsulation and applications in pharmaceuticals. Shegokar et.al.

Polymeric nanoparticles

Polymeric nanoparticles are sub-micron (1 to 1000 nm) colloidal particles which are composed of one or multiple polymers. The particle core encapsulates drug in inner matrix or is adsorbed partially on the surface of particle. Shegokar et.al. researched polymeric particles for industrial use.
 

Nano-micro emulsions

Nano or microemulsion is a colloidal dispersion which encapsulates both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs to improve the bioavailability. Improved stability, rapid digestibility, controlled release, and high capability of enhancing drugs’ bioavailability. Furthermore, nanoemulsions can be fabricated with great flexibility to deliver different drug moieties with different characteristics (Shegokar et.al.).
 

Polymeric lipid complexs (PLHs)

The multifunctional, hybrid architectures possess better attributes such as high loading capacity, improved stability, ease of anchoring ligands, surface manipulation, tuneable drug release, and excellent in vivo performance. PLHs can be polymer core–lipid shell, core–shell-type hollow lipid–polymer nanoparticulates, monolithic lipid–polymer hybrid nanoconstructs, and polymer-caged liposomes (Shegokar et.al.).
 

Pediatric suppositories
The rectal route is a good alternative to the oral route for pediatric patients. New advances like use of mucoadhesive gels, sustained release polymers and use of microparticles enhances the drug effect. The overall cost of product manufacturing and life cycle management is very low (Shegokar et.al. – paracetamol suppositories)
Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs)
SLNs are modified to the nano-structured lipid carriers (NLCs) by adapting the matrix by addition of liquid lipid . The enhanced matrix structure offers increased loading, minimal drug leakage and long terms stability. Shegokar et.al. reports NLCs for various antioxidants.
Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs)
The lipid nanoparticles were developed as alternative to traditional carriers such as polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes. They are being explored for dermal, mucosal, oral, intravenous/ parenteral, pulmonary and ocular route by many research group across the world. Large scale production and splenic targeting of surface modified SLNs is reported by Shegokar et.al.
Metal Nanoparticles
Metal nanoparticles are being applied in a variety of medical and nonmedical areas. To confer multifunctionality and enhance safety, these metal nanoparticles are often encapsulated using polymers or lipids. This chapter overviews metal nanoparticles, their encapsulation and applications in pharmaceuticals. Shegokar et.al.
Nano-micro emulsions
Nano or microemulsion is a colloidal dispersion which encapsulates both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs to improve the bioavailability. Improved stability, rapid digestibility, controlled release, and high capability of enhancing drugs’ bioavailability. Furthermore, nanoemulsions can be fabricated with great flexibility to deliver different drug moieties with different characteristics (Shegokar et.al.).
Lipospheres
Lipospheres are lipid micro particles in size range of 0.2 to 100 µm, composed of solid hydrophobic fat matrix in which the bioactive compound are dissolved or dispersed. Lipospheres offers advantage of good physical stability, low cost of ingredients and ease of preparation and scale up.
(Shegokar et.al. – stavudine Lipospheres)
Microbicides
Microbicides are dosage forms which contains drugs that prevent vaginal and/or rectal transmission of HIV and/or sexually transmitted infections. Stavudine microbicidal gels proved to have optimal antimicrobial, spermicidal and anti-HIV activity.
(Shegokar et.al. – stavudine microbicidal gels)
Nanocrystals
Poor solubility of new drugs and their related low oral bioavailability and general delivery problems are becoming a major challenge. Nanocrystals being a kind of “universal” formulation approach for these molecules are reviewed in many papers by Shegokar et.al., regarding the industrial feasibility, production processes (bottom-up and top-down technologies), regulatory aspects, nanotoxicology and drug targeting.
Polymeric nanoparticles
Polymeric nanoparticles are sub-micron (1 to 1000 nm) colloidal particles which are composed of one or multiple polymers. The particle core encapsulates drug in inner matrix or is adsorbed partially on the surface of particle. Shegokar et.al. researched polymeric particles for industrial use.
Polymeric lipid complexs (PLHs)
The multifunctional, hybrid architectures possess better attributes such as high loading capacity, improved stability, ease of anchoring ligands, surface manipulation, tuneable drug release, and excellent in vivo performance. PLHs can be polymer core–lipid shell, core–shell-type hollow lipid–polymer nanoparticulates, monolithic lipid–polymer hybrid nanoconstructs, and polymer-caged liposomes (Shegokar et.al.).