Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Ekaterina Kuzmina, a postgraduate student in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry at RUDN University, successfully defended her PhD thesis on an innovative method for improving the properties of existing drugs. Rather than creating new molecules from scratch, her research suggests modifying existing drugs through mechanical activation of the drug substance.
The essence of the breakthrough
The study focuses on lacosamide, a substance used to treat epilepsy. Ekaterina developed a method for mechanically activating its powder in a special activator mill. Just as intense mixing can alter the properties of a material, controlled, high-intensity mechanical action alters the structure and properties of drug particles at the microscopic level.
What does this mean in practice?
Accelerated action: the processed powder dissolves 2.4 times faster than the original; the active ingredient is released into the dissolution medium faster than the original lacosamide, which is not subject to mechanical activation. This means the drug can begin to act in the body significantly faster. "Green" technology: the method does not use toxic solvents and does not create hazardous waste, which is consistent with sustainable development principles. Cost-effectiveness: improving the properties of an existing drug is faster and cheaper than developing a new one from scratch.
Responding to global challenges
Ekaterina's work addresses several important issues in modern medicine and pharmaceuticals. These include the fight against drug resistance, as many epilepsy patients develop resistance to therapy. Improved drug properties could help overcome this barrier.
Furthermore, her method reduces drug development time. Creating a new drug typically takes 10-15 years, but modifying an already known and proven molecule significantly speeds up the process.
And the already mentioned advantage is the environmentally friendly nature of production. This method sets new standards for the pharmaceutical industry, reducing its environmental footprint. This is pioneering research for the university's medical institute. For the first time, a mechanical activation method for a medicinal substance was developed and optimized within its walls. Furthermore, changes in the substance's structure and properties were comprehensively studied in situ, demonstrating the irreversibility of the positive changes and the long-term stability of the resulting material.
"The developed approach opens the possibility of targeted improvements in the properties of a wide range of known drugs. This is a step toward more effective, safe, and affordable therapies developed with environmental considerations in mind," says Ekaterina Kuzmina.
The girl has already filed an application for a Russian patent for her method.
The Explorer's Path
In 2024, Ekaterina graduated with honors from the RUDN University Institute of Medicine with a specialization in Pharmacy and began working on her PhD dissertation in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry as a postgraduate student under the supervision of Professor Elena Valerievna Uspenskaya, Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
She has participated in a number of national and international conferences, including the International Pirogov Scientific Medical Conference (2024), the IV International Conference "Hot Spots in Solid State Chemistry: Focused Fundamental Research" in Novosibirsk (2024), and the VII All-Russian Conference "Physics of Aqueous Solutions" (2025). She has published five full-text international research articles on the topic of her dissertation, four of which were in journals indexed in the Scopus international database.
Ekaterina Kuzmina's research exemplifies how modern science at RUDN University is solving pressing practical problems. This work, initiated within the university, has the potential for practical implementation in the pharmaceutical industry, offering cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions for the medicine of the future.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.