Research Overview

The mathematics and statistics section addresses computational pharmacy and similar research area’s such as pharmacometrics, sysmtes and mathematical pharmacy and other pharmacologic or biologic fields based  mathematical modeling and simulations. Some examples include population PK/PD modeling, computational quantum-chemistry, especially based on density functional theory or molecular docking. More statistically oriented are area’s like design of experiments, meta-analyses or data mining, which belong to biostatistics and bioinformatics, and are often used in pharmaceutical research.

Part of the scientific work of the biophysics section is focussed on the preparation of radiolabeled agents (peptides, monoclonal antibodies) with respect to a possible application in either radiodiagnosis or radiotherapy. The resulting radiopreparations are tested for their stability and maintainance of their biological properties, such as affinity to a targeted biological structure (particularly cell receptors) in in vitro and in vivo conditions. To monitor radiopreparation stability the established HPLC with radiodetection and iTLC methods are used.

Another area of research is the study of the biophysics of human stratum corneum lipids involved in the barrier function of the skin. The research is carried out in cooperation with the Skin Barrier Research Group, which synthesizes selected types of ceramides that are part of the skin lipid barrier along with free fatty acids and cholesterol. The structure and properties of the skin lipid barrier are studied in particular by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, neutron low angle diffraction, 2H „solid-state“ nuclear magnetic rezonance and permeation experiments on Franz-type cells. Measurement and analysis of diffractometric data is currently carried out in cooperation with the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna.

Another research direction of the Biophysics section, in collaboration with the Centre for Research and Development Teaching Hospital in Hradec Kralove, is engaged in monitoring the extent of oxidative damage to the human body. Its result are oxidative changes in the structures of lipids, proteins and DNA. In our work we focus on DNA damage. The degree of oxidative DNA damage at the level of individual cells can be determined using the so-called comet assay test. In our research, we deal with the impact of external factors such as prevalent anesthesia and surgery, polytrauma and subsequent hospitalization in the ICU.

The physical chemistry section studies, in cooperation with other research groups at the faculty, the determination of physicochemical characteristics of newly prepared drug candidates and develops HPLC methods for some biochemical studies. It also investigates the oxidation-reducing properties of biologically active substances by means of electrochemical techniques (voltammetry, electrolysis, polarography) as well as HPLC.

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