The BioPharm Lab Complex includes three well integrated laboratories and a supporting analytical center: — Laboratory for extraction of natural products and synthesis of bioactive compounds; — “In vitro” laboratory for evaluation of biological activity and toxicity; — Pharmaceutical development and characterization and “In Silico“ design. The lab complex is designed to perform problem-driven and industryoriented R&D directed to efficient, value-added and environmentally-friendly utilization of the national bio-resources and valorization of industry byproducts and bio-wastes to obtain products with high added value.

Services

• Development of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical forms.
• Biopharmaceutical characterization of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical forms:

– determination of disintegration, dustiness and mechanical strength of tablets;

– determination of bulk density, residual humidity and particle size of powders and granules;

– determination of dissolution kinetics of solid dosage forms;

– determination of disintegration of suppositories.

• Determination of affinity constants by the method of isothermal titration calorimetry.
• In vitro determination of permeability through intestinal mucosa, blood-brain barrier and skin by PAMPA method.
• Experimental determination of water solubility, lipid solubility and ionization constants.

Projects

• Development and biopharmaceutical characterization of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical forms. Funding: Bulgarian and foreign pharmaceutical companies. PI: Assoc. Prof. Christo Tzachev, Current.
• IT-based design of novel drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Funding: Center of Excellence for Informatics and ICT. PI: Prof. Irini Doychinova, 2018 – 2023.
• New inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Funding: Bulgarian Science Fund. PI: Prof. Irini Doychinova, 2017 – 2020.

Completed projects:

• Innovative food supplements from Bulgarian plants and microorganisms. Stage I. Testing of scientific hypotheses. Funding: R&D Consortium, Sofia Techpark. PI: Assoc. Prof. Christo Tzachev, 2018
• In vitro and in vivo studies of a newly synthesized galanthamine derivative with potent anticholinesterase activity. Funding: Medical Research Council, MU-Sofia. PI: Prof. Irini Doychinova, 2017
• Development and biopharmaceutical characterization of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical forms. Funding: Bulgarian pharmaceutical companies. PI: Assoc. Prof. Christo Tzachev, 2016 – 2018

Equipment

• Tableting: Erweka model EP-1 single- punch tablet press
• Granulation and film wrapping: Erweka model AR 403
• Drying, pelleting and coating: Mini-Glatt / GLATT 14528
• Disintegration test: ELECTROLAB Model ED-2 SAPO
• Disolution test: Erweka Model DT 826
• Fritability Test: ELECTROLAB Model EF-2W
• Test of tablet mechanical strength: ELECTROLAB Model ESB-2PRL
• Bulk density test for granules and powders ELECTROLAB model ЕTD-1020
• Residual moisture test: Precisa Gravimetrics model XM60 measurement device
• Digital Sieve Analyzer for Granules and Powders Octagon 200 Endecotts
• Suppository disintegration test: LECTROLAB model ESDT-3
• UV/VIS Spectrophotometer Dynamic Halo DB-20S Dynamica
• Vertical ultrasonic homogenizer Bandelin model SONOPULS HD3100
• Encapuslator B-395 Pro
• Climate Stability Chamber KBF P 240
• Isothermal titration calorimeter nanoITC TA Instruments
• Equipment for experimental determination of water solubility, ionization constant, partition and distribution coefficients, PION Inc.
• PAMPA (Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay), PION Inc.

Contacts