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Table of contents
Dear readers,
4 Molecular modeling of RHO kinase 1 inhibitors using quantitative structure-activity analysis
Before you lies the 2nd edition of EPSA Students Science Publication (ESSP) Volume 9. ESSP is an EPSA Scientific Project which provides students with the opportunity to share their research findings, in abstract format, on an international level. The abstracts are reviewed by professionals from the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences (EUFEPS) and provided with insightful feedback. Students are encouraged to improve their academic writing skills.
6 Repurposing drugs to treat neurological/neurodegenerative diseases 8 Recent Advances in the Excipients Used for Modified Ocular Drug Delivery 10 Colonization and Microbial Contamination of Public Washrooms by Multidrug Resistant Gram-negative Bacteria: a pilot study 12 Role of the Intestinal Microbiome, Intestinal Barrier and Psychobiotics in Depression 14 Extraction of polyphenols from grape pomace using mixtures of non-ionic surfactants 16 Efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines: An overlook of a pandemic vaccine development landscape 18 Development of nanomedicine strategies to target coronavirus
This edition contains eight abstracts from different fields of pharmaceutical sciences. You will gain insight into recent advances in the excipients used for modified ocular drug delivery. Furthermore, regarding the neurological topics, you can discover the role of the intestinal microbiome and barrier, and psychobiotics in depression, and read on repurposing drugs to treat neurological and -degenerative diseases. In relation to the analytical area, you can read more on the extraction of polyphenols from grape pomace and the molecular modelling of rho kinase 1 inhibitors. Lastly, studies regarding COVID-19 are discussed. Gain more perspective on the efficacy and safety of COVID vaccines and the development of nanomedicine strategies to target the virus. The abstracts represent the effort and time the students have put in to conduct amazing research projects all over Europe. It was a pleasure to collaborate with the students and read their abstracts. I am extremely grateful to the students who gathered their courage and sent their research abstracts, and for sharing your work so that our pharmaceutical knowledge will broaden. I would like to express my gratitude to the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences for the effort and time they have put into reviewing the abstracts, supporting in the making of this publication, and giving insightful feedback to the students. Without the publication department, this edition would not have been possible. Thank you for your hard and dedicated work. I hope you enjoy reading this. Yours in science, Yong Xin Cao EPSA Science Coordinator 2021/2022
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European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
Molecular modeling of RHO kinase 1 inhibitors using quantitative structure-activity analysis Author: Jelena Rebić Scientific Coordinator: Milica Radan, Mpharm; Teodora Djikić, PhD Institution: Department of Pharmaceutical chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy University of Belgrad
INTRODUCTION: In addition to the regulatory role in actin and myosin function, rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) influences the processes of proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and oncogenic transmission. Therefore, alterations in their activity are associated with various pathological states including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, glaucoma, Raynaud’s disease, or erectile dysfunction. This study enables us to gain deeper insights into the structural requirements of studied compounds that affect ROCK1 activity. AIM: Develop a robust 3D-quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) model with good predictive power that could be used for pharmacophore analysis of studied inhibitors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 3D-QSAR study was performed on 48 compounds structurally comprising pyridine derivatives and oxadiazole derivatives. Optimized compounds were divided into two groups, a training set with 34 compounds, and a test set with 14 compounds. RESULTS: The calculated statistical parameters of internal (R2=0,920; Q2=0,760) and external (R2pred=0,746; r2m, r/2m, >0,5; ∆r2m<0,2) validations indicated good predictive power of the created model and the possibility of its application for pharmacophore analysis of the studied ROCK1 kinase inhibitors. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of our study, we may conclude that, the higher activity of pyridine derivatives is due to the presence of two heterocyclic groups at the optimal distance described by the positive variables var28 (DRY-DRY: 11.20-11.60Å), var208 (TYP-TYP: 14, 80-15,20Å) and var383 (DRY-TYP: 16.40-16.80Å). These variables are not present, or are weakly expressed in
the second group of compounds. Analysis of variables with a negative influence showed that the presence of two steric hot spots, at a longer distance, var217 (TYP-TYP: 18.4018.80Å), significantly reduces the activity of pyridine derivatives. Variables var424 (O-N1: 10.00-10.40Å) and var477 (O-TYP: 8, 408.80Å) which represent distance between hydrogen bond donor and acceptor, or hydrogen bond donor and steric hot spot, respectively, also had negative influence on the activity.
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Questions & answers Please, tell us a little bit more about yourself. My name is Jelena Rebic and I am currently in my final year of studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Serbia. This is my first time that I apply for ESSP and I am thrilled to be accepted. In my freetime I tend to travel, go out and dance Serbian national dance. Tell us a bit more about your research and its significance. Inhibitors of ROCK1 are being developed nowadays, but still there are a lot of possibilities in its research, structure development and activity. Specifically, alterations in their activity are associated with various pathological states including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, glaucoma, Raynaud’s disease, or erectile dysfunction. This study enables us to gain deeper insights into the structural requirements of studied compounds that affect ROCK1 kinase activity. What was the biggest challenge while carrying out the research and how did you overcome that? In my case, I was having troubles with mastering the programs for energy optimisation such as Gaussian and later for 3D-QSAR, Pentacle. Later on, as I trained and learnt about these systems, the most challenging was finding the best model. There were, I think, at least 30 models that I made until together with my mentor we selected the best one, with the most optimised activity and parameters of internal and external validation.
In your opinion, what is the benefit of joining ESSP and what advice do you have for students undertaking research in the future? In my opinion every student that starts a research project should be courageous enough to apply for ESSP. In my case, I have done three research papers so far, and I can say it is a very challenging task. But if you are persistent and with the help from your mentor, you can really achieve anything. Having a laboratory or theoretical experience outside the regular faculty program, is an unique experience from which you can learn a lot about science and moreover, about yourself.
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European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
Repurposing drugs to treat neurological/ neurodegenerative diseases Author: Darina Lyaeva (darinalyaeva1@icloud.com) Scientific Coordinator: Dr Patrick McHugh Institution: School of Applied Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England, HD1 3DH
INTRODUCTION: Drug repurposing and in silico experimentations provide an exciting alternative to conventional drug discovery methods, which are expensive, time-consuming and often result in the rejection of potentially promising compounds. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are a leading cause of mental and physical disability worldwide. The limited effectiveness of treatments for these disorders reflects the unmet medical need for new pharmacological therapies. AIM: The aim of this research project was to explore the role of human sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) in the context of AD and MS and consequently repurpose regulatory approved drugs for their treatment. Additionally, it aimed to explore the effect of point mutations on SPHK1 functioning and their implications in disease pathology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In silico methods including molecular dynamics simulations and virtual screening by Molsoft ICM-Pro were used to produce a homology model of SPHK1, investigate two mutations in SPHK1 protein structure and dock the LOPAC chemical library to identify five SPHK1 ligands according to their binding affinity. RESULTS: The findings revealed a dual nature for the protein. Evidence from the literature proposed a reduction of SPHK1 in AD patients’ brains and an upregulation in lesions of MS patients. Moreover, two mutations associated with SPHK1 functioning were explored. Gly82Asp was proposed as a pathogenic mutation with a ∆∆G value of -0.63, whereas Phe197Ala, carrying a ∆∆G value of 1.02, was thought not to have a major influence
on protein structure. This was contrary to the computational stability predictions which indicate positive values have a destabilising effect on proteins. Docking scores (kcal/mol) were ranked most to least negative (highest to lowest binding affinity) in the following order: oxiracetam (-35.25), benzamil hydrochloride (-32.84), Ro 90-7501 (-31.67), piceatannol (-31.08) and SKF 89626 (-30.65). CONCLUSION: From examining the findings, nootropic oxiracetam, and neurodegeneration inhibitor Ro 90-7501 were proposed to dampen Aβ toxicity in AD through enhancing SPHK1 activity. In contrast, sodium channel blocker benzamil hydrochloride and naturally derived piceatannol were suggested to prevent T cell egression from lymph nodes in MS by antagonising SPHK1. Finally, it was concluded that oxiracetam and Ro 90-7501 carry a repurposing potential for targeting disease progression in AD, whereas benzamil hydrochloride and piceatannol could modify the disease course in MS.
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this could mean positive patient outcomes by maintaining comfort and independence.
Questions & answers
What was the biggest challenge while carrying out the research and how did you overcome that? The biggest challenge was using a software system I was completely unfamiliar with for carrying out the computational simulations for our results. The set-up was complex and hard to comprehend, and it was important to save each result separately. Otherwise, interpreting all results on the same file would become difficult. This is because amino acid interactions and protein-compound interactions would sometimes overlap. I had to take extra time to get comfortable with using the system.
Please, tell us a little bit more about yourself. My name is Darina, and I am a final-year pharmacy student at the University of Huddersfield. I work part-time as a pharmacy assistant. After graduation, I will commence my foundation training year at Leeds Teaching Hospitals as a trainee pharmacist. Upon qualifying as a pharmacist, I plan to explore the hospital sector by completing a clinical diploma and becoming an independent prescriber. Then, I hope to continue my In your opinion, what is the benefit of joining journey on research by doing a postgraduate ESSP and what advice do you have for students undertaking research in the future? degree. I believe joining the ESSP can open the door to great research opportunities. It allows Tell us a bit more about your research and its you to share your research with people with similar interests and perhaps fill the gaps in significance. The focus of this research was sphingosine- knowledge of their future research! After all kinase 1 (SPHK1), a protein kinase implicated the time and effort invested, it is extremely in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative fulfilling to be able to achieve recognition on diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) a higher level. My advice for students who are and multiple sclerosis (MS). Additionally, about to dive into their research journey is not the repurposing potential of five regulatory- to get discouraged if their results differ from approved drugs was investigated with respect the set expectations, as research is not black to their affinity for SPHK1. The findings and white, and their work and contribution is revealed a dual role of the protein. This valuable. pointed to a novel strategy in treating two of the most devastating neurological disorders by stimulation and inhibition of the SPHK1 pathway in AD and MS, respectively. Current pharmacological therapies for AD do not slow down or prevent disease progression, and MS treatment requires better disease-modifying agents. This poses a barrier in treating patients living with these conditions, which impacts their quality of life. The results of our research represent an exciting addition to the investigation of SPHK1 agonists for treating AD and inhibitors for treating MS. Ultimately,
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European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
Recent Advances in the Excipients Used for Modified Ocular Drug Delivery Authors: Melitini Koutsoviti Scientific coordinator: Marilena Vlachou, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology Institution: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
INTRODUCTION: In ocular drug delivery, maintaining an efficient concentration of the drug in the target area for a sufficient period of time is a challenging task. There is a pressing need for the development of effective strategies for drug delivery to the eye using recent advances in material sciences and novel approaches to drug delivery. AIM: This review summarizes the important aspects of ocular drug delivery and the factors affecting drug absorption in the eye including encapsulating excipients (chitosan, hyaluronic acid, poloxamer, PLGA, PVCL-PVA-PEG, cetalkonium chloride, and gelatin) for modified drug delivery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Information was gathered in March and April of 2021 from google scholars. We used in our review the most recent published papers, starting from 2018, and the keywords used were eye, drug delivery, anatomy, physiology, Chitosan, Hyaluronic acid, Poloxamer, PLGA, PVCL– PVA–PEG, Cetalkonium Chloride and Gelatin. RESULTS: The most important advantage of the excipients studied was the fact that they are biocompatible and biodegradable, while they can be used in nanotechnology. In specific, chitosan can deliver the API to the mucosa and hyaluronic acid improves tissue hydration and resistance. Poloxamer is thermo-activate while PLGA encapsulates molecules of virtually any size and PVCL – PVA – PEG increases the solubility of poorly soluble drugs. However, there are also disadvantages, including the non-stability of poloxamer in 20-25°C and the marginal effects of hyaluronic acid.
CONCLUSION: Ocular drug delivery is a truly challenging field. However, great strides have been made in this field to improve available treatments. Future research should focus on improving the stability and the availability of the API, improving the sterilization methods, and decreasing the toxicity.
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Questions & answers Please, tell us a little bit more about yourself. I am a pharmacy student very passionate about Drug Development with a strong intrinsic motivation to play an active role in delivering quality and innovative healthcare to patients all around the world. This goal drives me to always want more from myself and strive to become the best pharmacist scientist I can be. Tell us a bit more about your research and its significance. My research focuses on finding new multifunctional excipients for ocular drug delivery. In ocular drug delivery, maintaining an efficient concentration of the drug in the target area for a sufficient period of time is a challenging task. There is a pressing need for the development of effective strategies for drug delivery to the eye using recent advances in material sciences and novel approaches to drug delivery. This review summarises the important aspects of ocular drug delivery and the factors affecting drug absorption in the eye including encapsulating excipients (chitosan, hyaluronic acid, poloxamer, PLGA, PVCL-PVA-PEG, cetalkonium chloride, and gelatin) for modified drug delivery. What was the biggest challenge while carrying out the research and how did you overcome that? The main challenge was to collect the data for the review (source of data, which articles to collect). This challenge was overcome by reading articles on the topic of data collection and the selection of our resources.
In your opinion, what is the benefit of joining ESSP and what advice do you have for students undertaking research in the future? Joining ESSP will give the opportunity to pharmacy students to read my work on ocular drug delivery and trigger their interest in this field. Also, scientists who are interested in this field and already pursue research on ocular delivery, might get in touch with me and collaborate for further research.
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European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
Colonization and Microbial Contamination of Public Washrooms by Multidrug Resistant Gram-negative Bacteria: a pilot study Author: Inês Catarina Vieira Lourenço Scientific Coordinator: Professor João Perdigão Institution: iMed ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon
INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms to resist antibiotics. It is the main infectious health problem in the countries of the European Economic Area (EU / EEA) and one of the main causes of concern in public health. Inadequate use or prescription of antibiotics, insufficient prevention, and control of infections in hospitals are the main factors supporting the development of AMR. The main cause for this phenomenon is associated with the high rate of prescription of this type of drug, including its excess or inadequate prescription. Other causes may include the consumption and use of antibiotics in agriculture, climate change and chemotherapy in cancer patients. The most commonly reported bacterial species associated with invasive infections in the EU/ EEA area were Escherichia coli, followed by Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanni, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus Faecalis and Enterococcus Faecium. AMR’s cost to savings is significant. In addition to death and disability, prolonged illness results in longer hospital stays, the need for more expensive drugs and financial challenges for patients. The health cost of infections caused by AMR bacteria in the EU/EEA population is comparable to that of influenza, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined. AIM: That said, the aim of this pilot study was not only to investigate the contamination of public restrooms by Gram-negative bacteria with resistance to third generation cephalosporins or carbapenems, but also to characterize drug susceptibility profiles and identify isolates at the level of species.
CONCLUSION: The highest degree of intrinsic resistance of the isolates belonging to the order Pseudomonadales stands out. However, one of the isolates belonging to the order Enterobacteriales and identified as belonging to the genus Klebsiella showed concomitant resistance to third 6 generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides, highlighting the need to proceed with the characterization of the respective genetic determinants and genetic strains context.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight samples were collected in toilets, faucets, and sanitary brushes at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon. The samples were subjected to isolation of Gram-negative bacteria resistant to third generation carbapenems, cephalosporins and antibiotic susceptibility testing, DNA extraction, PCR amplification, purification, and bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS:
No
contamination
by
resistant to the antibiotics studied was detected in taps or toilets, suggesting a greater degree of sanitation when compared to sanitary brushes. Seven clinical isolates belonging to the orders Entrobacteriales (n=2) and Pseudomonadales (n=5) were identified at the level of sanitary brushes.
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Questions & answers Please, tell us a little bit more about yourself. My name is Inês Lourenço, I am a student in the fourth year of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon, Portugal. I have always been a curious person, attentive to the world around me and with a great desire to know more about the themes that fascinate me; among them have always been music, sports and science. This diversity of interests led me to several extracurricular activities such as studying piano for 10 years, doing theater, learning new languages, volunteering and having been a federated athlete in Basketball and Synchronized Swimming. Aside from that, in 2019 I founded a small embroidery business, taking my granny hobby to another level. Tell us a bit more about your research and its significance. I started this journey back in 2020 in the Research Institute for Medicines, iMedULisboa. I knew I wanted to study and investigate a field that was preponderant in public health, so I chose Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) I find this area particularly interesting and relevant since AMR is the leading infectious health issue across the European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries and one of the major causes of concern for public health. It has become a such global emergency that WHO has declared that AMR is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. Recent estimates based on data from EARSNet show that each year, more than 670 000 infections occur in the EU/EEA due to bacteria resistant to antibiotics and that approximately
33 000 people die as a direct consequence of these infections. My research showed that there are resistant bacteria contamination in the sanitary facilities of my faculty, since one of the isolates, belonging to the order Enterobacteriales and identified as Klebsiella, showed concomitant resistance to third generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. What was the biggest challenge while carrying out the research and how did you overcome that? The biggest challenge that I, and most people doing research, had to face was the restrictions due to the pandemic. I was not able to go to the lab as many times as I would have liked to in order to produce more and better results. The only way around this issue was to do as much as possible every time I could meet with my coordinator and really took the time to understand everything that I was doing, its purpose and final results. I was very grateful for the opportunity that I was being given, working with great scientists and with every material I needed, so I tried to make the most out of it. In your opinion, what is the benefit of joining ESSP and what advice do you have for students undertaking research in the future? Having our abstract published in ESSP is a great opportunity for students to share our work and knowledge. This exchange of ideas is crucial in making better science and starting discussions that can lead to amazing discoveries. EPSA’s initiatives, like ESSP, help us develop not only as students but as future health care professionals and European citizens. The best piece of advice I can give is to never underestimate yourself and to be resilient during your studies and research. The results may not correspond to your expectations, but you will always learn from the process.
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European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
Role of the Intestinal Microbiome, Intestinal Barrier and Psychobiotics in Depression Author: Paulina Trzeciak (paulinatrzeciak329@gmail.com); Mariola Herbet (mariola.herbet@umlub.pl)* Scientific Coordinator: Mariola Herbet Institution: Chair and Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8b Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
INTRODUCTION: The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the pathophysiology of depression. As determined, the microbiota influences the shaping and modulation of the functioning of the gut–brain axis. The intestinal microbiota has a significant impact on processes related to neurotransmitter synthesis, the myelination of neurons in the prefrontal cortex, and is also involved in the development of the amygdala and hippocampus. Intestinal bacteria are also a source of vitamins, the deficiency of which is believed to be related to the response to antidepressant therapy and may lead to exacerbation of depressive symptoms. Additionally, it is known that, in periods of excessive activation of stress reactions, the immune system also plays an important role, negatively affecting the tightness of the intestinal barrier and intestinal microflora. AIM: In this review, we have summarized the role of the gut microbiota, its metabolites, and diet in susceptibility to depression. We also describe abnormalities in the functioning of the intestinal barrier caused by increased activity of the immune system in response to stressors. Moreover, the presented study discusses the role of psychobiotics in the prevention and treatment of depression through their influence on the intestinal barrier, immune processes, and functioning of the nervous system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The work has a review character. We reviewed the works published in scientific databases (Scopus, PubMed). RESULTS: The correct functioning of the gut– brain axis is associated with a multidirectional relationship. The assumption that determines the effect of intestinal membrane disintegration on an increased predisposition to depression can also be viewed the other way around, as depression may contribute to changes in the intestine by prior activation of the immune system and its impact on the structure of the intestinal epithelium. Currently, the
effectiveness of the treatment of depression is ensured primarily by psychotherapy and/ or rational pharmacotherapy prescribed by a doctor, with the necessity to adapt specific recommendations to the patient. Introducing probiotics as adjuvants to treatment could improve the function of the gastrointestinal tract and mood; effects which have been observed in many studies. CONCLUSION: It should be noted that despite the evidence proving their effectiveness in both preventing and treating depression psychobiotics do not currently have the status of antidepressants. Promising results obtained in trials in animal models require a lot of work in clinical trials. Both naturally occurring foods and a diet rich in fermented products constitute sources of probiotics that can affect the intestinal microbiome. The authors express the hope that the present work can be used to consider the development of new therapeutic strategies for this disease, taking into account the described dependencies in the pathomechanism of its formation.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed
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supplementation had a positive effect on the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Also in many work behavioural tests showed that probiotic therapy reduced the intensity of depressive behaviour in rodents. In my work I noticed that promising results obtained in trials in animal models require a lot of work in clinical trials. I also express the hope that the present work can be used to consider the development of new therapeutic strategies for this Please, tell us a little bit more about yourself. I graduated from the Medical University of disease, taking into account the described Lublin. During my studies, I was involved in dependencies in the pathomechanism of its volunteer activities and also I was a member formation. of the PPSA of Lublin. Active in the association taught me teamwork, resourcefulness and What was the biggest challenge while carrying responsibility. I am proud that I met so many out the research and how did you overcome new people and gained a lot of experience. that? Actually I work in Pharmacy and in my free The biggest challenge was to collect literature. I divided the work into several stages. time, I read books and travel.
Questions & answers
Tell us a bit more about your research and its significance. My scientific work is a review. I chose the topic of the work for a reason. Nowadays, depression is considered a civilization disease, due to its wide range and frequency of occurrence, especially in highly developed countries. Globally, about 300 million people, i.e., 4.4% of the world’s population, suffer from depression. Increasingly, depression affects young people. In much scientific work it has been observed that the gut and brain work in a bi-directional manner and can affect each other’s functions and significantly impact stress and depression. A healthy gut microflora is known to transmit signals to the brain via pathways involved in neurotransmission, neurogenesis, microglia activation, and behavioural control under both normal and stressful conditions. Research on the gut microbiota is developing very quickly and it has indicated that there is a significant correlation between the functioning of the digestive, nervous and immune system. There is also evidence that the metabolites of the gut microbiota are potentially associated with depression. In many trials in animal models it was determined that the probiotic
In your opinion, what is the benefit of joining ESSP and what advice do you have for students undertaking research in the future? When I joined ESSP I made many friends. Activity in the association helped me to understand how a pharmacist works. It was a difficult study, but the ESSP introduces a nice atmosphere during their duration. I do not have any advice, everything is good.
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European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
Extraction of polyphenols from grape pomace using mixtures of non-ionic surfactants Author: Jovan Baljak Scientific Coordinator: Mariola Herbet Institution: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia
INTRODUCTION: Grape pomace is a by-product accounting for 25% of grape mass used in the winemaking process and represents an economically viable source of polyphenols. The advantages of polyphenol extraction from pomace using surfactant solutions are solvent nontoxicity and process simplification. AIM: Investigation of the influence of concentration and pH value of the solutions of non-ionic surfactants Brij® S20, poloxamer 407 and their mixtures on the efficiency of polyphenol extraction from pomace, based on the determination of total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Another aim was to determine the content of individual phenolics in extracts.
ability to solubilize water-insoluble polyphenol quercetin (2.38 mg/L), as well as watersoluble gallic acid (0.78mg/L), comparing to solutions of non-ionic surfactants (1.92 mg/L for quercetin and 0.67 mg/L for gallic acid). CONCLUSION: Efficiency of the extraction depends on the extraction medium and factors such as concentration and pH value. Better extraction efficiency of surfactant mixtures is probably due to the synergistic effect in mixed micelles as a result of improved packaging of hydrophobic surfactant parts in the core of mixed micelles and increased micelles stability.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Extraction of polyphenols from Cabernet Franc grape pomace was performed using solutions of non-ionic surfactants Brij® S20, poloxamer 407 and their mixtures (mass ratios: 9:1, 1:1, 1:9) in concentrations 3% and 5%, and pH by-product; values of 3,4 and 5. The total phenolic content KEYWORDS: in extracts was determined by the Folin- poloxamer 470; solubilization Ciocalteu method, antioxidant potential by the DPPH assay and the content of individual polyphenols by HPLC. RESULTS: Optimal conditions for the polyphenol extraction from pomace by surfactant solutions were pH value 4 and mass concentration 3%. Extracts with the highest total phenol content (54.80 mg GAE/g grape pomace) and the highest antioxidant potential (IC50=1.80 µL/mL) were obtained using mixtures of Brij®S20 and poloxamer 407 (9:1 and 1:1), comparing to using solutions of non-ionic surfactants (34,82 mg GAE/g grape pomace and IC50=2.68 µL/mL). Mixtures of surfactants (9:1) show the greatest
Brij®
S20;
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Questions & answers Please, tell us a little bit more about yourself. My name is Jovan Baljak. I am a fourth-year Pharmacy student at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia, and I’m highly motivated to pursue a scientific research career in the fields of Pharmacy. I have worked as a student associate at Petnica Science Centre, Serbia. I have participated in implementation research projects for gifted high school students. I usually spend my leisure time travelling and discovering new cities. I also like cooking. Tell us a bit more about your research and its significance. Last year I worked in the group of Prof. Jelena Helene Cvejić on obtaining polyphenolic compounds from grape pomace using nonionic surfactant extraction. The reason why we have chosen grape pomace is because grape pomace represents a by-product of the winemaking process and previous studies showed antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects of extract grape pomace. At greater concentrations of surfactants in the water solution micellar colloids begin to form in the bulk of the solution. Micelles have a role in development of pharmaceutical formulations as transport systems based on their potential to increase bioavailability of substances. The significance of our research is that we have found that extracts of grape pomace are showing some antioxidative potential and formulation extract and nonionic surfactant with the biggest amount of polyphenolic compounds, which are responsible for this effect.
What was the biggest challenge while carrying out the research and how did you overcome that? The biggest challenge during the research was coordinating laboratory work with other student commitments, finals and the lack of laboratory equipment. In your opinion, what is the benefit of joining ESSP and what advice do you have for students undertaking research in the future? In my view, the benefit of joining ESSP is a great opportunity to get experience for the future, make new contacts and present your research project. My advice for students is that everyone should work on at least one research project during study time because it develops your critical mindset.
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European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
Efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines: An overlook of a pandemic vaccine development landscape Author: Bruno Miguel da Silva Casquilho Alves Scientific Coordinator: Ana Paula Martins, Assistant Professor with Habilitation, Phd, Diana Costa, PharmD, Msc Institution: Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon
INTRODUCTION: As soon as COVID-19 became a public health emergency, the race was on to develop vaccines of robust quality, safety and efficacy that could provide an important arsenal to prevent the spread of the virus or the development of the symptoms associated with its infection. With global society paralyzed, it was of everyone’s interest that the process of developing, evaluating and distributing these vaccines was as fluid as possible. AIM: This report focuses on the safety and efficacy evaluation process of the vaccines that have been approved until July, 2021, for the EU, analytically comparing the results obtained. It also addresses all the measures that have been adopted to speed up the availability of these vaccine technologies to the public. Additionally, it contains a historical contextualization of the evolution of scientific research on coronaviruses and a multidisciplinary approach to the molecular structure and epidemiology of SARS-CoV2. It aims to provide the public with clear and robust information on COVID-19 vaccines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To achieve the proposed objectives, a literature review was conducted. Data collection was supported by scientific articles, collected through research in platforms such as PubMed and Google Scholar. In particular, the EMA and European Commission websites were consulted. EMA Public Assessment Reports were consulted as a basis for the study of the safety and efficacy assessment processes of vaccines approved in the European Union. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: It was possible to analyze the adaptations performed by EMA in their vaccine assessment process, concluding that the development of vaccines
has the same requirements as other medicines to establish a favorable benefit/risk ratio for market authorization. Additionally, it was possible to understand in depth the way all the background research in the coronavirus field has enhanced the rapid discovery of strategic therapeutic targets and a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, a comparative analysis was established between the clinical trials of the different vaccines approved in the European Union. This data will be used for further study, in order to verify if the clinical results correspond to the behavior seen in the real-world population.
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In your opinion, what is the benefit of joining ESSP and what advice do you have for students undertaking research in the future? I really believe it is an asset to communicate science projects with other students. I believe I grew in terms of critical thinking, scientific awareness, and work organisation. My main advice: don’t stop being ambitious in searching for answers to your questions. That’s what research is all about, and there Please, tell us a little bit more about yourself. My name is Bruno Alves, I’m 22 years old and are never any silly questions. Together, we I’m a 4th year MPharm student at the Faculty can add value in health, and make research a of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon. I have been noble activity for the population. actively involved in a series of extracurricular projects, namely in associativism, being currently President of APEF, Portugal. In my third year, I started a cycle of public health research projects in the area of vaccines, so I hope to grow academically and be able to use my findings for my professional future.
Questions & answers
Tell us a bit more about your research and its significance. My project was started in 2020, when the pandemic was at its peak. Vaccines were in the development phase, and the population had many questions about how they worked and how their safety and efficacy was being ensured. In order to create scientific content that would answer these questions, I decided to embark on a series of projects that would cover the different phases of vaccine development, from clinical evaluation to pharmacovigilance. What was the biggest challenge while carrying out the research and how did you overcome that? No doubt the schematization of project topics. It was a very abstract period of time in which I was reading a lot of literature without knowing what I was going to do with it. It was crucial to systematise all the data and ensure an organised archive of it, in order to achieve a fruitful systematic analysis. With the topics defined, the research and writing work became much simpler.
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European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
Development of nanomedicine strategies to target coronavirus Author: Abanoub Soliman Scientific Coordinator: Dr. Ahmed Faheem Institution: University of Sunderland
INTRODUCTION: Early in the 21st century, Covid-19, a viral respiratory tract infection that is induced by SARS-CoV-2, has caused a public health emergency. Unlike bacteria, viruses enter host cells and take advantage of the cell machineries to replicate and cause infection. It makes such nonliving viral microbes a challenging target for therapeutics, as they hide within the cell. The current treatment relies on symptom relief using antipyretic medicine combined with nonpharmacological management, while allowing the body to fight the pathogen. The optimum approach is the prevention of the viral invasion by clearing the virus before it causes infection and subsequently target the virus’s replication steps within the cell. The use of targeted drug delivery method through the implication of nanomedicine to minimize off-target unwanted effects and maximise therapeutic efficacy has a substantial impact on targeting Covid-19. AIM: The earliest and critical point of intervention is the prophylaxis of infection by achieving immunization prior to viral invasion. This review will evaluate the effectiveness of packaging vaccines into nanocarriers to assist their targeted delivery to antigen presenting cells. DNA and mRNA segments encoding for the spike protein are used, mimicking the virus, to produce antibodies. The susceptibility of these strands to degradation manifests the use of nanotechnology to provide a protective shield and facilitate delivery. Afterwards, this review will evaluate the repurposing of existing therapeutics, which is primordial to treat the infection. However, several biological and pharmacological limitations that interrupt the delivery of such therapeutic agents urge the unmet medical need to incorporate nanomedicine strategies to assist their successful internalisation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five articles were selected, upon an advanced search, performed on different databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and several websites, such as that of Pfizer, Moderna and the WHO, as per the PRISMA guidelines. Some limiting criteria were used to filter the citations identified, along with
exclusion tools to narrow the initial search to the significance of the use of nanotechnology to target coronavirus. Human clinical trials data were included to assess the efficiency of the novel formulations. RESULTS: Several biotech companies presented vaccine candidates and reformulated anti-viral drugs with promising outcomes, shown in the table below. CONCLUSION: Some vaccine candidates gained emergency authorisation, such as Moderna and Pfizer, which consist of biocompatible lipid-based nanoparticles. Further, the use of nanomedicine to guide the repurposing of currently approved antiviral drugs has shown prospering outcomes, as Remdesivir has massively accelerated patient recovery. The vaccines’ very low storage temperature requirement limits their transportation and distribution. Future research is required to consider modifications in their pharmaceutical formulation to accommodate such limitations, while maintaining stability and efficacy. Also, further alterations in the formulation could allow their delivery through the nasal cavity promising strong immunity.
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Questions & answers Please, tell us a little bit more about yourself. My name is Abanoub Soliman. Currently, I’m an Egyptian Canadian 3rd year pharmacy student at the University of Sunderland in the UK. I’m constantly looking for new challenges to learn, grow and potentially have a positive impact in the improvement of the healthcare system. I strongly believe that today’s technology promotes lots of opportunities that can be the starting point for innovation. At present, I’m working on another research project with the aim to assess the incorporation of 3D printing into the pharmaceutical field to innovate the conventional tablet manufacturing approach, giving rise to Personalized Medicine. Tell us a bit more about your research and its significance. Covid-19 has surprised the world with an unexpected global pandemic that has imposed a threat, not only to the public health, but also to the world economy. The situation has urged scientists to accelerate the research for a therapeutic treatment. However, as healthcare has always experienced, viruses are a challenging target for therapeutics. Since vaccine studies could take years until a traditional vaccine is approved by the FDA, my research addresses the novel technique of using nanotechnology to assess the encapsulation of vaccines into nanoparticles. Such an approach would facilitate and accelerate the development process and increase the vaccine’s efficacy. It could also assist the development of a powder-based nasal vaccine, improving patient compliance and preventing unsafe needle reuse. As compared to live virus vaccines that cannot
be administered by immunocompromised patients, nanocarriers-based vaccines present a promising method to innovate the field of vaccinology. As the viral load is associated with increased risk of complications, including pneumonia, multi-organ failure and death, it is primordial to target the replication steps of the virus. The promising results allowed people to regain hope that life could get back to normal, easing lockdowns and restrictions. What was the biggest challenge while carrying out the research and how did you overcome that? One of the biggest challenges I faced was time management. As this research was conducted during my academic year, it was hard to balance it with the course work. Sometimes, it feels that the progress is minimal, but the hard work and dedication was the key to success. I believe that challenges and hard times are what makes you grow as a person and develop new skills. In your opinion, what is the benefit of joining ESSP and what advice do you have for students undertaking research in the future? For me, it is an honour to have my work published through the ESSP. It shows how the hard work and the time invested is worth every minute of struggle and setbacks. ESSP offers a great opportunity to demonstrate your research abilities and knowledge, while connecting with other pharmacists to fulfil your scientific curiosity. “It is crucial to bear in mind that conducting successful research is not easy. Consider that it might take lots of time, full of obstacles and struggles. However, trust in the process, because once you get to your destination, it will be an unforgettable experience”.
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European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
DEVELOPMENT OF NANOMEDICINE STRATEGIES TO TARGET CORONAVIRUS
www.epsa-online.org | @EPSA_Online
