Background
The Institute of Process and Particle Engineering is a world leader in the development of pharmaceutical products and processes.
In this context, we are offering a paid master thesis where the student is employed at an external company.
The goal of the master thesis is to create the basis for product development, focusing on a novel drug delivery system where the medicine is contained in a flavored gel, either as solution, emulsion or suspension. Drug delivery occurs via breaking a seal of a snap-package and sucking out the flavored gel. Target patient populations includes:
Tasks
Requirements
What we offer:
Start: Spring 2021
Contact: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Johannes Khinast, khinastnoSpam@tugraz.at
Continuous flow synthesis has recently emerged as the new paradigm for the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Many benefits come with implementing continuous processes, such as increased throughput, constant product quality, the possibility of controlling and automating the process, increased safety and waste reduction. Continuous flow processes are also widely considered a valid platform where to implement and test new technologies that can change the way fine chemicals are traditionally manufactured. Lately, there has been increasing interest in the application of biocatalysts as a tool for synthetic chemistry, since it is considered a very promising and greener alternative to conventional catalysts, which are mostly metal-based. Enzymes have many advantages, such as low toxicity and environmental impact, high activity in mild conditions, and high selectivity. Therefore, the possibility of exploiting the advantages of continuous flow synthesis as well as biocatalysis is very attractive for both researchers and industry. However, still a lot of work needs to be done to increase the feasibility of biocatalysts and to design continuous flow biocatalytic processes that can be industrially competitive.
Figure 1 – Generic scheme of a multistep (bio)catalytic process
The aim of this project is to develop a process for multistep (bio)catalytic cascade reactions for the production of APIs in continuous flow. The process can be flexible and feature different modules: reaction modules that can host packed bed reactors filled with the immobilized enzymes or catalyst, as well as modules for other unit operations (e.g. heating/cooling, mixing, extraction). A great part of the work will be dedicated to identify an optimal immobilization strategy onto innovative supports (e.g. 3D printed, see Figure 2). The possible challenges include: finding an optimum immobilization protocol that minimizes leaching and optimizes the stability of the enzymes; the choice of an optimal solvent compatible with multiple reaction steps; the possible interaction of by-products within the system. To increase process understanding and efficiency, the possibility of implementing process analytical tools, such as inline sensors for real-time analyses, will be explored as well.
Figure 2 - CAD design of a honeycomb type of support structure
Start At any time
Contact: Dipl. Ing. Dott.ssa Alessia Valotta valottanoSpam@tugraz.at - +43 316 873 - 30428
Assoc. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Heidrun Gruber-Wölfler woelflernoSpam@tugraz.at
The Institute of Process and Particle Engineering is a world leader in the development of simulation tools for industrial-scale bioprocessing units, funded by the Spin-Off Fellowship Program of the FFG. For example, our current code can model processes in large-scale bioreactors, up to 200m3 . We are therefore offering a student job with the possibility to do a master thesis with the goal of creating a comparison algorithm for bioreactors. The objective is to find the influencing factors that determine the productivity difference between reactors. This should be done by comparing reactors of different scales and for reactors at the same scale but different geometry and should aid scale up or process transfer processes in the industry.
Start: Fall 2020
Contact Dr. Christian Witz 0316 873 30416 christian.witznoSpam@tugraz.at
The current COVID-19 crisis highlights the need to treat inside air, as inside-air viral transmission is considered an important route of infection. Interestingly, UV-based irradiation of virus particles is known to inactivate the virus. Thus, the goal of the thesis is to develop a low-cost UV-based air flow-through device (UV decontamination reactor) that can be integrated in typical air handling systems in restaurants, movie theatres, concert halls, trains, etc.
Start: Summer/Fall 2020
Contact
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Stefan Radl Univ.-Prof. Dr. Johannes Khinast (radlnoSpam@tugraz.at, khinastnoSpam@tugraz.at)
For this construction thesis we are looking for a student to design a water bath made of stainless steel for continuous cooling crystallization in a tubular reactor (plug flow crystallizer).
Using such a tubular crystallizer the continuous cooling crystallization process should be carried out in two water baths of different temperature. Each water bath has separate glass inserts which enable the visual observation of the crystallization process within the tubes via a high speed camera. To achieve high resolution images a backlight source e.g. a LED panel in addition to the camera is necessary. Due to the reflection of the water inside the bath the distance between the backlight and the camera should be as short as possible. To keep the tube cycles uniformly immersed and to guide them special tube mountings are also required.
What we offer
Dipl.-Ing. Alexander Meister, BSc Inffeldgasse 13 / III, 8010 Graz alexander.meisternoSpam@tugraz.at
To dedicated students who are interested in the pharmaceutical field (i.e. students of chemical engineering, pharmaceutical engineering, biomedical engineering, pharmacy, or related disciplines), we offer an opportunity to write a paid Master’s thesis.
OBJECTIVE: Powder processing steps, such as feeding and mixing, are critical in many industries, including the pharmaceutical industry. For example, within a continuous tablet manufacturing environment, powder feeding impacts functionality and quality of the final product. For the rational design of such operations the powder properties need to be known, including the particle size distribution, bulk (poured) and tapped density, flowability, compressibility, electrostatic chargeability and tendency to segregate.
Thus, the development of solid dosage forms and the associated manufacturing processes requires a good understanding of the relationship between powder composition and the properties of the powder.
WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THIS MASTER’S THESIS WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING:
FINANCING: Compensation on the basis of a service contract
If you are interested in writing your thesis at the process and particle engineering institute of TUGraz, please contact us indicating the reference number. Candidates will be selected on a competitive basis and will be selected without regard to sex, race or nationality.
Contact: Sara Fathollahi (sara.fathollahinoSpam@tugraz.at, 0316 873 30938)
Institute of Process and Particle Engineering Inffeldgasse 13 8010 Graz