Dr. Raimar Löbenberg
3-142K Katz Group Centre for Pharmacy & Health Research
University of Alberta
11361 – 87 Ave.
Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1
(780) 492 - 1255
Email: rloebenberg@pharmacy.ualberta.ca
Position
Professor
Pharmacy degree
Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany
PhD (Pharmaceutical Technology) Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Germany
Major Specializations
Colloidal drug delivery systems and predicting oral absorption using IVIVC.
Research Interests
Our lab develops new dissolution test methods to predict the oral performance of dosage forms. We use the fundamentals of the Biopharmaceutical Drug Classification System to develop in vitro/in vivo correlations. This work enables us to evaluate formulation factors and ways to identify them in in vitro tests. Our lab has different analytical and production methods established like caco-2 cell culture, dissolution testing, disintegration testing, HPLC, Isothermal Microcalorimetry, thermal conductivity of powders, stability testing, spray drying, granulation, blending, milling, tabeltting, encapsulation, particle size determination and stability testing. We are able to formulate and make quality control on most common dosage forms like tablets, capsules, granulates, suppositories, semisolids, creams, ointments, emulsions, suspensions and solutions.
The application of nanotechnology in drug delivery is another major research interest. Here our lab investigates together with Dr. Finlay the founder of the Aerosol Research Laboratory of Alberta and Dr. Roa from the Cross Cancer Institute the pulmonary delivery of drug loaded nanoparticles to treat diseased like lung cancer. Our lab is involved in designing the dosage forms of the future by combining biotechnology and modern drug delivery strategies.
Committees
USP expert committee member for Bioavailability of Dietary Supplements 2005-2010
Vice Chair of the Specialty Committee of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Pharmaceutics;
World Foundation of Chinese Medicine Science (2006-2010)
USP Membership committee 2005-2010,
AAPS Steering Committee on Vitro Release and Dissolution Testing
Expertise
Dissolution method development
Oral absorption
Computer simulations using the ACAT model
Controlled release
Dosage form performance tests
In vitro/in vivo correlations
Biopharmaceutics Drug Classification System
Dosage from development
Quality by Design
Formulation work
Nanoparticles as drug carriers
Development of colloidal drug targeting vectors
Inhalable nanoparticles for pulmonary drug delivery
Thermal conductivity
Microcalorimetry
Medical Marijuana
Cannabinoid dosage forms
Semisolid drug delivery
Selected Publications
S Gill, R Löbenberg, T Ku S Azarmi, W Roa and EJ Penner
Nanoparticles: characteristics, Mechanisms of Action and Toxicity in Pulmonary Drug Delivery – A Review
J Biomed Nanotechnology 2007
Kendra Schröder, Katja Schmid and Raimar Löbenberg
Influence of Bulk and Tapped Density on the Determination of the Thermal Conductivity of Powders and Blends; AAPS PharmSciTech 2007
Shirzad Azarmi, Wilson Roa, Raimar Löbenberg
Current perspectives in dissolution testing of conventional and novel dosage forms
Int J Pharm Volume 328, Issue 1, 2 January 2007, Pages 12-21 (ranked No 1)
Leticia Ely, Warren H Finlay, Wilson H Roa, Raimar Löbenberg
Effervescent Dry Powder Aerosols for Respiratory Drug Delivery
Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2007 (65) 346-353
Diana Stuart, Raimar Löbenberg, Tabitha Ku, Shirzad Azarmi, Leticia Ely, Wilson Roa and Elmar J. Prenner Biophysical investigation of nanoparticle interactions with lung surfactant model systems
J Biomed Nanotechnology Volume 2, Numbers 3-4, October/December 2006, pp. 245-252(8)
Weyhers, H., Löbenberg, R., Mehnert, W., Souto, E.B., Kreuter, J., Muller, R.H.
In vivo distribution of 125I-radiolabelled solid lipid nanoparticles; Pharmazeutische Industrie; Volume 68, Issue 7, 2006, Pages 889-894
Hai Wei and Raimar Löbenberg,
Biorelevant dissolution media as a predictive tool for glyburide a class II drug
Eur J Pharm Sci 29 (1), pp. 45-52 (ranked # 10 for the Journal in Jul – Sep 2006)
Formulation and Cytotoxicity of Doxorubicin Nanoparticles Carried by Dry Powder Aerosol Particles Shirzad Azarmi, Xia Tao, Hua Chen, Zhaolin Wang, Warren. H. Finlay, Raimar Löbenberg, Wilson. H. Roa Int J Pharm 2006 319 (1-2), pp. 155-161 (ranked # 23 for the journal in Jul – Sep 2006 )
Investigation of vitamin and mineral tablets and capsules on the Canadian market
Raimar Löbenberg and Wayne Steinke JPPS 9 (1): 40-49 2006
Raimar Löbenberg, Jae Seung Kim, Gordon Amidon
Pharmacokinetics of an immediate release, a controlled release and a two pulse dosage form in dogs. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 60, (1) 2005, p 17-23 ranked Top 9 manuscript in 2005
Jeffrey O.-H. Sham, Yu Zhang, Warren H. Finlay, Wilson H. Roa, and Raimar Löbenberg
Formulation and Characterization of Spray-Dried Powders Containing Nanoparticles for Aerosol Delivery to the Lung,
Int. J. Pharm. Vol 269, (2), Pages 457-467 ranked Top 25 in 2004
Alyautdin, R. N., Reichel, A., Löbenberg, R., Ramge, P., Kreuter, J., and Begley, D. J.
Interaction of poly(butylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles with the blood-brain barrier in vivo and in vitro. J. Drug Target. 9 (2001) 209 - 221.
Löbenberg R and Amidon GL
Modern Bioavailability, Bioequivalence and Biopharmaceutics Classification System; New Scientific Approaches to International Regulatory Standards
Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm, (2000) 50, 3-12
Löbenberg R, Shah V, Krämer J, Amidon GL, and Dressman JB
Dissolution Testing as a Prognostic Tool for Oral Drug Absorption: Dissolution Behavior of Glibenclamide
Pharm. Res. (2000) 17 (4) 439-444
E. Galia, E Nicolaides, D Hörter, R Löbenberg, C Reppas, JB Dressman
Evaluation of Various Dissolution Media for Predicting In Vivo Performance of Class I and II Drugs
Pharm. Res. (1998) 15, 698-705
R Löbenberg and J Kreuter
Macrophage Targeting of Azidothymidine: A Promising Strategy for AIDS Therapy
AIDS Res. Hum Retrov (1996) 12 (18), 1709-1715