Bedford, MA (PRWEB) April 02, 2013 -- Upon completion of her graduate studies in classical Physical and Polymer Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts - Lowell, Dr. Shikha Barman spent the ensuing 20 years of her career exploring and perfecting methods utilizing polymers in medicine, making pioneering contributions to such endeavors as sustained release drug delivery systems, targeting drugs selectively to specific cells at a specific site, enhancing drug bioavailability, and the use of polymers as “scaffolds” to grow cells and organs. After producing related novel intellectual property for a succession of startup firms owned by others, she began her own pharmaceutical formulation consultancy in 2009, Integral BioSystems LLC, which in 2012 grew to incorporate a full-capability specialty pharmaceutical development laboratory. Accordingly, the American Chemical Society publication Chemical and Engineering News will feature Dr. Shikha Barman in its “Diversity” Calendar Feature in the April 15, 2013 issue.
Integral BioSystems’ niche is in nano-engineered drug delivery systems aimed at providing solutions to long-held issues in drug products, especially in low drug absorption by target tissues due to cell impermeability and insolubility. In addition to assisting drug companies in developing their dosage forms, Integral scientists are also working on novel solutions to improve the bioavailability of Class II, III and IV compounds.
Under Dr. Barman’s leadership, Integral BioSystems has developed numerous dosage forms for ophthalmic, oral, sublingual, intranasal, IV and transdermal routes. Integral BioSystems has a translational approach to drug development, customizing delivery systems to achieve the biologically effective objectives of the therapy. Dosage forms are customized to achieve sustained release or targeted, tissue-focused delivery or fast-release/instant delivery, depending upon the desired product attributes.
Once the drug-containing formulations are tested in preclinical models, the Company develops an integrated CMC plan to systematically transition the project to scale up and product development. As part of product development, Integral BioSystems specializes in efficiently developing a dosage form to manufacture and test in Phase I/Phase II first-in-man trials for proof-of-concept. The Company has a network of manufacturers/analytical houses for pharmaceutics that can fast-track the manufacture and release of the sterile dosage form for first-in-man trials.
