Are you passionate about science, technology, and innovation? At QPharma, we offer exciting thesis opportunities for students who want to apply their academic knowledge to real-world challenges within pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. Whether your interests lie in research, engineering, or process development, our thesis projects offer an opportunity to explore new ideas, gain valuable industry experience, and contribute to the development of future pharmaceutical solutions.

Investigation of Solid-State Properties and Internal Structural Changes in Silicone-Based Drug Delivery Systems and Their Impact on Drug Release Performance

Thesis Aim

The objective of this thesis is to improve the understanding of factors influencing drug release performance from silicone-based drug delivery systems. Particular focus will be placed on the solid-state properties, API crystallinity, and internal structural changes that may occur during the manufacturing and storage of silicone-based matrices. The study aims to identify material characteristics associated with drug release variability, including acceptable, elevated, and reduced release profiles, and to establish potential links between matrix properties and release behavior.

Project Description

Silicone-based matrices manufactured at different time points and using different API lots will be characterized using a range of complementary analytical techniques to identify changes in API solid-state properties and matrix microstructure that may influence drug release performance. Analytical results will be compared with available in vitro release (IVR) data to explore relationships between solid-state characteristics, morphology, and release behavior. The findings are expected to improve the understanding of the mechanisms driving drug release variability and help identify critical material attributes associated with drug release performance.

The study will include:

• Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to evaluate thermal behavior and crystallinity.

• X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) to identify and characterize crystalline phases.

• Thermogravimetric Analysis/Loss on Drying (TGA-LOD) to investigate volatile content, potential hydrate and anhydrous forms of the API, and material stability.

• Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT) to visualize the internal structure of the matrices and detect potential crystal formation or structural changes.

Requirements

A successful candidate should have an interest in pharmaceutical formulation development and a good understanding of solid-state characterization techniques, such as thermal analysis, diffraction methods, and imaging methods. Experience with these methods is considered an advantage.

How to apply:

Does this thesis project sound interesting to you? We would love to hear from you! If you are curious, motivated, and eager to put your knowledge into practice, we encourage you to submit your application by December 20, 2026

Join us at SEVER Pharma Solutions and get the opportunity to explore real-world challenges within pharmaceutical development. We offer an inspiring and collaborative environment where new ideas, knowledge, and innovation come together to shape the future of pharmaceutical solutions.

Contant persons:

Tamar Memanishvili - Development Scientist

Email: Tamar.Memanishvili@qpharma.com

Anders Wall - Principal Analytical Scientist

Email: Anders.Wall@qpharma.com