Members

Group leaders:

o. Univ. Prof. Mag. Dr.
Helmut Viernstein

Hon. Prof. Frank M. Unger, Ph.D.

Teaching Assistants:

Mag. Dr. Sharareh Salar-Bezahdi
DI Mag. Dr. Yasser Saber

PhD Students:

Mag. Maryam Amiri
MMag. Borjana Lubura
Mag. Supatta Midpanon
DI (FH) Stefanie Stummer
Mag. Mozhgan Torabi Mag. Nermeen Gabra

Diploma students:

Sabine Bogner
Eirini Dalakaki
Nermeen Gabra
Andrea Ondrovics
Marie Christine Rabenreiter
Nicola Schmid

 

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INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS IN PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY

Research is focussed on three areas, namely New Ingredients and Formulations for Probiotics, Prebiotics and Synbiotics; Cyclodextrin research; and New Biomimetic Carbohydrate-derived Excipients.

New Ingredients and Formulations of Probiotics, Prebiotics and Synbiotics. In the Probiotics field, we are aiming at the stabilization of lactic acid bacteria toward stresses such as storage at elevated temperatures, and against destruction by gastric acid and bile. Preferred technology is fluid bed coating of live bacteria with combinations of food-compatible materials. We are also studying potential new prebiotic polysaccharides and their metabolism in anaerobic bacteria. Techniques applied include monosaccharide composition by TLC and HPAEC; GC/MS of methylated sugar derivatives; and enzyme-catalyzed cleavage of  polysaccharides (in cooperation with Professors Praznik and Loeppert of the Agricultural University of Vienna). As a long-range goal, we are developing technology for sequence analysis of irregular polysaccharides (polysaccharides without identical repeat units). Protocols are also developed for HPLC analysis of metabolic products of anaerobic bacteria in vitro and in vivo (in cooperation with Professor Haslberger of the Department of Nutritional Sciences).

Cyclodextrin Research. In the cyclodextrin field, we are investigating theoretical models of host-guest binding to predict the stability of cyclodextrin inclusion complexes (in cooperation with Professor Wolschann of the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna). By combined organic-chemical and enzyme-catalyzed strategies (green chemistry), we are also studying synthetic approaches to cyclodextrin derivatives with defined regiospecific modifications. On an occasional basis, we are exploring stabilization or enhancement of bioavailability of specific active ingredients by complexation with cyclodextrins.

New Biomimetic Carbohydrate-derived Excipients. Artificial monosaccharides and oligosaccharides are produced by combined organic and enzyme-catalyzed reactions for carbohydrate biotechnology approaches to polyamide hydrogels and artificial aminopolysaccharides as novel pharmaceutical excipients. Some of the derivatives obtained are also utilized as biomimetic linkers for biological assay development.