Lucila Garcia-Contreras, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Fax (405) 271-7505

Office CPB 321

Email lucila-garcia-contreras@ouhsc.edu

Summary

The research goal of my laboratory is “Targeted Drug Delivery” and involves the rational design of dosage forms and their in vitro evaluation, which are used to design in vivo studies. In turn, the information obtained in in vitro and in vivo studies is used to understand the underlying reasons of the performance of the dosage form with the objective of improving its formulation design to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.

A recent project that illustrates this process is the formulation of a novel molecule with anticancer and antimicrobial activity for pulmonary delivery as nanocrystals or microparticles. In vitro evaluation included size analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and laser diffraction; stability, using (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). We determined the aerosol performance of these formulations using commercial dry powder inhalers and performed pharmacokinetic studies to determine the disposition of the drug after pulmonary administration to mice. Lastly, in collaboration with Dr. Jie Wu from the OUHSC Department of Pathology, we assessed the efficacy of the nanocrystals in a transgenic mouse model of adenocarcinoma.

My laboratory also designs dosage forms for oral, vaginal and transdermal administration following same procedure. A second line of investigation of my laboratory is the development of needle-less vaccines to provide mucosal and systemic immunization. We are interested in elucidating the role of cell mediated immune (CMI) response and humoral immunity to the overall protection provided by the vaccine. Examples of vaccines studied in my laboratory include vaccines against tuberculosis, West Nile Virus, Diphtheria and Shigellosis.