Rational Control of Crystal Morphology

The external shape of crystalline particles (called morphology) is of paramount importance in a wide range of applications, in particular pharmaceuticals and pigments. In the production of pharmaceuticals, undesirable crystal morphologies such as needles and plates can cause serious problems in processing (e.g., slurry handling, filtration) and formulation (e.g., tableting, dissolution)

Crystal morphology can be controlled by careful selection of solvent mixtures and excipients (approved additives), although in practice this is done on a trial-and-error basis. In this project, we propose to use a combination of computational and experimental techniques to develop a rational approach to optimise the solvent mixture and to select optimal excipients for the crystallisation of drug particles with desired crystal morphology. The computational techniques involve the prediction of crystal morphology, the construction of major crystal growth surfaces, the study of the interaction of solvent and excipient molecules with these surfaces, and considering the impact of these interactions on the crystal morphology.

The experimental techniques involve standard crystallisation procedures using different combinations of solvents and excipients, and measuring the size and geometry of the resulting crystalline particles. As exemplar compounds, a few simple and easy to obtain compounds will be selected, such as aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen and quinacridone. Once the procedure has been developed and tested on these simple compounds, some more challenging substances will be selected. If the approach is successful, it can be commercialised.

How to apply

Formal applications can be submitted via the University of Bradford web site. Applicants should register an account, select ‘Full-time PhD in Chemistry & Forensic Sciences’ as the course, and include the project title on the Research Proposal section.

Informal enquiries are also welcome.

About the University of Bradford

Bradford is a research-active University supporting the highest-quality research. We excel in applying our research to benefit our stakeholders by working with employers and organisations world-wide across the private, public, voluntary and community sectors and actively encourage and support our postgraduate researchers to engage in research and business development activities.

Faculty of Life Sciences

The faculty comprises a mixture of academic divisions, research centres and outreach facilities. We provide high-quality teaching with a professional focus and engage in cutting-edge research – which we seek to apply through our extensive links with industry and business. We also offer a wide range of postgraduate taught and research courses.

Many of our academics are active researchers and international research experts.

Our interdisciplinary research themes are focus on:

• Computational and Data-driven Science
• Interface of Chemistry Biology and Materials
• Health, Society, People and Place
• The Life Course

Our research centres include:

• Centre for Pharmaceutical Engineering Science
• Digital Health Enterprise Zone
• Institute of Cancer Therapeutics
• Wolfson Centre for Applied Research

University investment in research support services, equipment and infrastructure provides an excellent research environment and broad portfolio of developmental opportunities. 

Positive Action Statement

At the University of Bradford our vision is a world of inclusion and equality of opportunity, where people want to, and can, make a difference. We place equality and diversity, inclusion, and a commitment to social mobility at the centre of our mission and ethos. In working to make a difference we are committed to addressing systemic inequality and disadvantages experienced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students.

Under sections 158-159 of the Equality Act 2010, positive action can be taken where protected group members are under-represented. At Bradford, our data show that people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic groups who are UK nationals are significantly under-represented at the postgraduate researcher level. 

These are lawful measures designed to address systemic and structural issues which result in the under-representation of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students in PGR studies.