The research is focused on the formulation and characterization of innovative pharmaceutical solid  oral dosage forms. In particular, the drug delivery systems are developed in order to overcome the problems related to the physicochemical characteristics of the active molecules such as solubility and bioavailability or pointing them to specific sites of the body.

Particular attention is addressed to the realization of microparticles of drug-polymer compounds prepared by microwaves irradiation or supercritical fluids technology (line of research conducted in collaboration with the Department of Engineering and Architecture). Their  physicochemical characterizations (thermal analysis, thermomicroscopy, FT-IR Spectroscopy,  X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscope)  and dissolution properties are also object of investigation.

Supercritical fluids techniques are also used for drugs micronization as an alternative method to the conventional processes as they allow to improve the performance of these processes in terms of reduction and distribution of particle size and control of their morphology, without degradation or contamination of the product.

Drug-polymer solid systems are also obtained by solid dispersion techniques (freeze-drying, solvent evaporation, co-grinding and others). These systems are analized to study the physical state of the drug (crystalline, microcrystalline, amorphous) and its solubility and dissolution rate properties. Most utilized excipients were PEG (different molecular weights), linear and crosslinked PVP, acrylic copolymer Eudragit, polxamer copolymers. Solid systems with natural and synthetic Cyclodextrins are also investigated due to their ability to form inclusion complexes of lipophilic drug.