The academic staff of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technologies maintains strong expertise and consulting activity and develops research in the following areas:
1. Innovative drug delivery systems for modified release and targeted action
- Nanotechnologies in ocular drug delivery; development of vesicular systems – niosomes
- Solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers for pharmaceutical and natural biologically active compounds
- Silver nanoparticles obtained via “green" synthesis methods as carriers of biologically active substances of natural origin
2. Phytopreparations
3. Modified release dosage forms
- Lipid-based self-emulsifying systems
4. Medical patches
5. Development of protective mucoadhesive nasal and oromucosal forms for prevention of respiratory infections
6. Development of model carriers for extemporaneous dosage forms suitable for pediatric and geriatric practice
Completed Projects
• Project No. 18027, funded by the “Science" Fund of MU-Varna: “Lipid nanoparticles – a modern technological approach to incorporate hyperforin with improved chemical stability in dosage forms for topical application and accelerated wound healing" (2018), budget: BGN 49,845.71. Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Velichka Andonova, PhD. Researchers: Assist. Prof. Stefan Stefanov, Assist. Prof. Mirena Dobreva, Ch. Assist. Prof. Nadezhda Ivanova, Assist. Prof. Yoana Sotirova.
• Project No. 20016, “Science" Fund of MU-Varna: “Pharmaceutical development and characterization of viscoelastic 'coating' bioadhesive therapeutic systems with silver nanoparticles and their complexes with potential application in oncological and infectious skin and mucosal diseases" (2020), budget: BGN 49,916.52. Project leader: Assoc. Prof. V. Andonova, PhD. Researchers: Ch. Assist. Prof. Nadezhda Ivanova, Assist. Prof. Ivaylo Pehlivanov.
• Project No. 8273/21.11.2018, funded by GRANT-2019 (MU-Sofia): “Experimental and numerical investigation of supersaturating nanoscale drug delivery systems based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-poly(ethylene oxide) dihydrophilic copolymers for improved membrane transport of poorly soluble drugs". Project leader: Ch. Assist. Viktoria Mihaylova; Research participant: Assoc. Prof. Viliana Gugleva.
• Project No. KP-06-N43/3 of 30.11.2020, funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund, Ministry of Education and Science: “Design and characterization of conventional and modified niosomes and hybrid, stimulus-responsive in situ gelling dosage forms based on them for efficient drug delivery". Project leader: Prof. Denitsa Momekova, PhD; Researcher: Assoc. Prof. Viliana Gugleva.
• Operational Programme “Science and Education for Smart Growth", co-financed by the EU through the European Structural and Investment Funds
Project: “Creating a multidisciplinary educational environment for the development of professionals with integrated competencies in biomedicine and healthcare"
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Zlatislav Stoyanov Dimitrov
Ongoing Projects
• Project No. 21001, “Science" Fund of MU-Varna: “Development of a green method for obtaining phycocyanin from Spirulina with potential pharmaceutical and food technology applications" (2021), budget: BGN 49,921.07. Project leader: Prof. Krastena Nikolova, PhD. Researchers: Assoc. Prof. Velichka Andonova, PhD; Assist. Prof. Ivaylo Pehlivanov; Assist. Prof. Georgi Gavrailov.
• Project No. 22023: “Evaluation of pharmacokinetic parameters of double self-emulsifying drug delivery systems with sodium alendronate for oral administration". Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Velichka Yordanova Andonova, PhD
• Project No. 23011, “Science" Fund: “Classical 2D and modern 3D ALI cellular models for the study of antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of new therapeutic agents and nanostructured drug carriers". Project leader: Ch. Assist. Nadezhda Ivanova
• Project No. 24027, “Science" Fund: “Essential oils and essential oil components: analysis and correlations of antitumor, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity". Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Silvia Atanasova-Stamova, PhD
• European Union – NextGenerationEU, via the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria, under procedure BG-RRP-2.004
Project No. BG-RRP-2.004-0009-C02: “Medical University – Varna: Enhancing translational achievements in medicine (MUVE-TEAM)", Research group: SMART (R&D Laboratory for dietary supplements), Project leader: Prof. Krastena Nikolova, PhD
• Internal Research Projects under MUVE-TEAM:
• Project 3.4.6: “Multitarget approach for prevention and treatment of respiratory infectious diseases and combating antimicrobial resistance: focus on synergistic interactions between silver nanoparticles and natural microbial inhibitors" (Ref. No. 099-3431/14.11.2023). Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Velichka Andonova, PhD
• Project 3.4.8: “New combination of natural oils and colorants with regenerative action" (Ref. No. 099-3445/15.11.2023). Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Viliana Gugleva, PhD
• Project 3.4.10: “Innovative physical medicine solutions for ensuring transdermal absorption of Boswellia extract". Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Evgeniya Petrova Dimova, MD
