Download DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

WILKES UNIVERSITY’S NESBITT COLLEGE of PHARMACY & NURSING
Department of
Pharmaceutical
Sciences
May 15, 2013
Issue 4
DEPARTMENT OF
PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
©2013 Pictures by Jacqueline Ruane
Note from the Chair
This is my last note as I will be stepping down at the end of the semester. I have been
active in the area of pharmaceutical sciences for over 40 years and have enjoyed it
greatly. I am sure my replacement will bring a fresh and invigorating energy to the department. The purpose of this newsletter was to give the faculty in my department a
chance to showcase their scholarship and to share it with the other departments of
Pharmaceutical Science in schools of pharmacy across the country. I hope that you enjoy the read and use it to stimulate your own department to develop an organ to showcase your own faculty. I also hope you will consider interacting directly with the faculty
here on projects that might overlap our areas of scholarship. I will continue to do research in the area of characteristics and properties of pharmaceutical excipients and
novel drug delivery forms. If you have similar interests please contact me directly.
Special points of
interest:

Chair’s Note

Faculty Profiles

Departmental
Staff News

Faculty Research

Mentoring/Team
Building with Students
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Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Faculty Update
Professor Arthur H. Kibbe, Ph.D. R.Ph.
BS Pharmacy Columbia University M.S. & Ph.D Pharmaceutics
University of Florida
Dr. Kibbe continues his research activities associated with
Excipients and dosages forms. Most recently he has been examining the Rabbit as a model to evaluate topical absorption. It is a
smaller animal than the pig which is the standard for the evaluation
of absorption of the API from a topical application and thus easier
to use in small laboratories. He and his students tested the absorption of Ketoprofen from extemporaneously compounded gels
using formulas commonly thought to promote absorption. The levels reached in the rabbit after administration were below therapeutic levels. Anyone interested in collaboration on this or other formulation issues should contact him directly at [email protected]
Professor Harvey Jacobs
BS. Chemistry, & Ph.D. Pharmaceutics, University of
Utah
He is rejuvenating his research endeavors after several years of service to the School as associate dean for admissions and student affairs. He is focusing on two projects. The first is to chemically modify glucose so it can be included in a polymeric delivery device and investigated for oral drug
delivery systems. This research relies on procedures that were developed in the 1950’s and are still
useful techniques today. The goal is to selectively perform chemical modifications on glucose through
the C-6 carbon atom, rather than on the C-1 carbon. Modification through this site will allow the C-1
position (where the ring opens and closes) to be unchanged. This will
allow binding of the modified glucose to specific receptors on cells.
Once the modification is performed and characterized, the modified
molecule will be included in a polymeric drug delivery device. It is envisioned that the modified glucose molecules attached to the polymer
will bind to glucose receptors along the GI tract.
This will delay the transit of the device through the GI tract and allow
for extended release of the drug. Research accomplishments to date
include successful coupling of a vinyl-terminated group to the C6 position through an amide bond.
Continued work will involve the polymerization of this group with other
monomers to form the drug delivery device.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Professor Dan McCune B.S. Pharmacy, Butler
University, Ph.D. in Pharmacology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Postdoctoral studies, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Interests include neuropharmacology, alpha1-adrenergic receptor
pharmacology, medicinal plants of the Amazon, Spanish, and competitive fencing.
In the laboratory Dr. McCune continues his work with human arterial
smooth muscle cells as a model system. Using Western blots, they
have verified co-expression of three alpha1-adrenergic receptor (α1AR) subtypes (α-1A, -1B, and -1D) in primary human aortic, coronary and
pulmonary smooth muscles cell types. RT-PCR has confirmed the
presence of mRNA in aortic and pulmonary cells. Assays for subtype
selective differences in signal transduction and function are just beginning. Additionally, Dr. McCune
plans to return to the Peruvian Amazon this summer as a preceptor for students at GAI Global’s
“Study of Medicinal Plants of the Amazon”. Dr. McCune continues to coach the Wilkes Fencing Club.
Alumni News
Kyle A. Olszewski, Pharm. D., a Wilkes University graduate in 2009 is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in
Pharmacology in the Department of Pharmacology and Systems Biology, University of Colorado.
Kyle works with Lynn E. Heasley, Ph.D. Dr. Heasley’s laboratory is investigating the role of MAP kinases and specific receptor tyrosine kinases in lung epithelial cells and human lung cancer cell lines.
Professor Marie Roke Thomas, Ph.D.
B.S. Biology, Wilkes University, Master in Public Administration, Seton Hall University, Ph.D.,
Human Development and Health Promotion, Marywood University.
Marie Roke Thomas is an Associate Professor in the Nesbitt
School of Pharmacy, Wilkes University. She is a member of the
Pharmaceutical Sciences Department where she has been recognized as Teacher of the Year 2010, 2011 and 2012 and also received the 2011-2012 Faculty Member of the Year by the student
body of Wilkes University. She serves on Student Affairs and as
Faculty Advisor to students in APhA (American Pharmacists Association). Her focus is to increase student awareness as it applies to
providing health care services to the uninsured. She encourages
the development of responsible citizenship and promotes the development of integrated, collaborative, multidisciplinary learning, to better coordinate patient care in the underserved populations. She
and her team of advisees also received the Nesbitt Trophy for outstanding public service for 2010,
2011, and 2012. Dr. Thomas serves on the Board of Directors of the Volunteers in Medicine (VIM),
the HIV Procurement Committee with the United Way, and as a volunteer for the YMCA. She collaborates with Dr. Mary McManus to provide pharmaceuticals, fund raising and service learning opportunities with students to the several free clinics set up to serve the Wilkes Barre and surrounding areas.
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Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Professor Ajay Bommareddy, Ph.D.
B.Pharm; Osmania University India, Ph.D. (Pharmacology); South Dakota State University, Postdoc; University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Ajay continues teaching pharmacology of important drug classes used in major disease states, e.g., renal, neoplastic, and
endocrine disorders, along with the elective on phytochemicals. In addition, he also started teaching Anatomy and Physiology to P-1 students along with other instructors for that
course. On the research front, he is continuing with his efforts
on prostate cancer chemoprevention employing alphasantalol. Currently two P-3 students and a P-2 student are assisting him with a research project on “Role of alpha-santalol
on prostate cancer cell cycle arrest” employing cell culture
models. As per the research conferences, he attended the
annual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
conference in Washington, D.C. from April 6-10, 2013 and
presented a research poster.
Research Interests: The long-term goal of my research is to identify the mechanism (s) through which
the naturally occuring active compounds inhibit the prostate cancer growth, and contribute substantially
to enhance our understanding of the disease prevention and treatment.
Professor Adam VanWert, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Pharm.D., Wilkes University; Ph.D. (Pharmacology/
Toxicology), Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
Adam returned to Wilkes in the fall of 2008 after receiving his
Ph.D. at MUSC. His doctoral research was in the area of drug
transport in the kidney. His didactic training was broad, with a focus on toxicology. His current research involves investigation of
the interactions between antibiotics and kidney transporter proteins (e.g., OAT3). Techniques used include HPLC, Western blotting, and cell culture. He works with students in the lab during
both the school year and summer; the latter being supported by a
Wilkes Mentoring Grant. He was introduced to research at Wilkes
while working with Dr. James Culhane from 2000-2003. He was
offered jobs in both the FDA and biotech sector, but chose to return to Wilkes because of his passion
for teaching, his positive experience with the faculty, and the family-like environment on campus.
On the teaching front, Dr. VanWert has been recognized as Teacher of the Year (2009-2010). He
teaches pharmacology of several disease states, e.g., cardiovascular, neoplastic, and gastrointestinal.
He has also developed a toxicology elective in which guest lecturer, Jeanna Marraffa, Pharm.D.,
DABAT (Upstate Medical University Poison Center, SUNY), introduces clinical toxicology to pharmacy
students.
Most recently, Adam has been invited to become a Graduate Affiliate Faculty member in the Pharmaceutics Department at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He will serve on dissertation committees in this role. In addition, he was invited to present his research at VCU in the Pharmaceutics
Seminar Series on October 23, 2012.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Professor Zbigniew J. (ZJ) Witczak,
M.S. & PhD. Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
Postdoctoral fellow Purdue University (Professor Roy L. Whistler)
Dr. Witczak continues his work on L-arabinose enones which are
starting templates for the synthesis of various classes of rare sugars.
His developments of novel (thio-sugars, aminosugars) as potential therapeutics directly from novel chiral building “synthon” L-arabinose epoxide have pointed the way toward new generation of antiproliferative
agents with potential antibacterial and antiviral activity.
Recently Dr. Witczak was selected as 2011 American Chemical
Society Fellow for his “excellence in contribution to the chemical sciences and in service to the ACS and the chemistry community”.
Students working with Dr. Witczak in Independent Research project:
Neepa Patel, Nathalie Kocon, Elham Takin
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Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Mary F. McManus, Ph.D., R.Ph.
Dr. McManus joined Wilkes University in 2000 as a molecular toxicologist with expertise in neurotoxic agents. In response to the needs of the underserved individuals of the region, Dr. McManus’s research interests transitioned into the area of
public health, patient advocacy, and poverty medicine focusing on delivery of improved medical care to underserved and vulnerable individuals. To this end, she
has developed, directed and collaborated in initiatives which improve health care
for underserved individuals at local, state and national levels. This includes focused application of pedagogical principles in the evolving discipline of poverty
medicine with the goal to improve the interprofessional scholarship of practitioners
in this area. She currently teaches anatomy and physiology, immunology and biotechnology, and service learning in pharmaceutical sciences. Dr. McManus has
recently completed a Medical Education Research Certification to enhance community based participatory research initiatives in underserved populations. She is
involved in preventative public health programs which will decrease the disease
burden within vulnerable populations. In addition to Dr. McManus’s teaching and research interests, she is
active within the University community. She is dedicated to student learning, faculty and staff development
and the overall well being of the community at large.
Professor Kenneth Pidcock
B.S.Ed, Secondary Education, Millersville State College;
M.S., Ph.D., Biology, Lehigh University
Kenneth Pidcock is an Associate Professor in the Biology department at
Wilkes University, and he teaches the introductory microbiology course in
the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. Ken is a bacteriologist whose research
involves molecular investigation of the biology and persistence of bacterial agents of infectious disease, with an emphasis on nosocomial and multiply drug-resistant infections. He and his colleagues are currently conducting surveillance of KPC carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. The KPC carbapenemase confers resistance to essentially all βlactam antibacterial drugs, and K. pneumoniae carrying its gene are typically resistant to multiple other classes of drugs, limiting treatment options.. Ken and his colleagues have focused on carbapenem-resistant K.
pneumoniae isolated in northeastern Pennsylvania, examining them for clonality and expression of KPC and
other β-lactamases. To date, they have learned that there are multiple clones of K. pneumoniae expressing
KPC-3 genes circulating in the region, and that the replicons on which β-lactamase genes harbored by these
isolates are located are highly mobile.
Adjunct Professor Roman Bielski, MS, & Ph.D. in organic chemistry. Warsaw University of Technology (Poland).
He carried out his post-doctoral research with Sir Derek Barton at Imperial College in London. After spending several years in academia
(Warsaw Agricultural University, Lehigh University and Cornell University) he worked in and co-founded a few small biotech companies. His
research interests include origin of homochirality (together with M.
Tencer he discovered a novel chiral influence – a set of three orthogonal orienting factors), environmental solutions and sustainable materials. He published about three dozen papers and co-authored more than
a dozen patents. He is helping our Department to secure funding for
research projects.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Departmental Staff
Jackie Ruane
Jackie Ruane coordinated Women Empowered by Science this Fall and Spring semester for the
Pharmacy Department. The lab was entitled “Stick It to Me, An Introduction to Aseptic Technique.” Local grade school students from the area had the opportunity to learn about aseptic technique and how
pharmacists prep intravenous medications in a laminar flow hood. The students were so excited to actually get to use a needle and syringe to inject an orange with water! “I use an orange because the outside skin resembles human skin,” says Jackie. Most of the students have had vaccine injections when
they were younger and some have had actual IVs when they were hospitalized. They really enjoyed the
lab but most importantly gained the knowledge of what hospital pharmacists do!
Theresa Rule
Theresa joined the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department as the Administrative Assistant in August, 2008. Ms. Rule has taken on many new responsibilities both within and outside the department
pertinent to both faculty and students. Theresa, is currently a member of the Wilkes University Staff Advisory Committee.
Ms. Rule is a graduate of Lackawanna Junior College. Presently, she is pursuing her education
further in the Business Administration area at Wilkes University. Theresa enjoys spending time with her
family. She and her husband, Jim, have three daughters, Tera, Brittny, and Tiffany. Tera is a recent
graduate of the Doctorate of Pharmacy Program here at Wilkes. Brittny and Tiffany are also students at
Wilkes University.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Faculty Research Interests
Ajay Bommareddy, Ph.D.
Cancer chemoprevention which primarily focuses on employing bioactive plant compounds, dietary compounds and certain chemicals in blocking or inhibiting/reversing the development of cancer in normal or preneoplastic tissues has gained significant attention in recent years among scientific community. Dr. Bommareddy research interests primarily focuses on exploring the chemopreventive properties of naturally occurring
compounds using prostate cancer as a model. Currently, he is investigating the role of alpha-santalol, derived
from sandalwood oil on prostate cancer development employing cell culture and animal models. Building upon the data obtained in cell culture models which was published last year (Phytomedicene, 19: 804-811,
2012), he will be working on the upstream signals responsible for the apoptotic cell death caused by alphasantalol selectively in prostate cancer cells. He actively collaborates both with in the department and also with
scientists from South Dakota State University and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Interested
readers can contact him at [email protected] for collaboration.
Dan McCune, Ph.D.
Three α1-adrenergic receptor (AR) subtypes have been cloned, the α1A-, α1B-, and α1D-AR. Additionally, 16
splice variants of the α1A-AR have been isolated in human tissues. We characterized the expression and
function of α1-ARs in primary human aortic, coronary, and pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells (ASMCs,
CSMCs, PSMCs). Receptor expression was detected by western blot in all three cell lines, while mRNA was
detected by RT-PCR utilizing subtype and splice variant specific primers. Both ASMC and PSMC express
mRNA for the α1A-, α1B-, and α1D-ARs. Interestingly, mRNA for α1A-AR splice variants 1-3, but not 4, was detected in ASMCs and PSMCs.. Response to agonist was assayed by measuring increases in intracellular calcium. Both ASMC and PSMC displayed increases in intracellular calcium in response to the α1-AR selective
agonist phenylephrine, suggesting functional receptor expression. This was blocked by the antagonist
prazosin, which also displayed inverse agonist properties. Simultaneous expression three α1-AR subtypes is
consistent with previous reports. The significance of α1A-AR splice variant expression is currently unknown.
Further study with selective ligands in order to assesses subtype specific signal transduction is required. This
work resulted in abstracts presented by Wilkes students at the international Experimental Biology conference.
One of the student participants has since joined the Department of Pharmacology as a graduate student at
the University of Colorado.
Adam L. VanWert, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Dr. VanWert’s research deals primarily with characterizing drug transporters in the body. During his graduate
training he was interested in determining the role of organic anion transporter 3 (Oat3) in the disposition of a
variety of drugs. A major finding from this work was the discovery that Oat3 is a critical protein involved in the
renal elimination of benzylpenicillin (penicillin G), as well as other commonly used drugs. With knowledge
gained on this transporter, and an arsenal of techniques to assess transporter function and expression, he
has formulated several new research questions. One major goal is to evaluate the potential for quantitative
structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis in the development predictive models; particularly models that
can predict drug-drug transporter affinity/activity based on physicochemical properties of the drug. This pursuit will ideally lead to more opportunities for rational drug design, and thus, more expeditious development of
efficacious drugs. Techniques that students are actively learning and employing in his lab include HPLC, fluorescence spectroscopy, drug transporter assays, mammalian cell culture, immunoblotting, and others. He
welcomes new opportunities for collaboration, and encourages interested readers to contact him at [email protected].
Adam and several students have recently published an original research article in Drug Metabolism
and Disposition. Their findings revealed important information about drug recognition by Oat3.
Organic Anion Transporter 3 Interacts Selectively with Lipophilic β-Lactam Antibiotics
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Faculty, Staff & Students’ News/Accomplishments
Dr. Zbigniew J. Witczak
Book: Click Chemistry in Glycoscience:New Development and Strategies, Edited by Z. J. Witczak and R. Bielski,
John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2013.
Publications:
Paradigm and Advantage of Carbohydrate Click Chemistry Strategy for Future Decoupling” R.
Bielski, Z. J. Witczak, in “Click Chemistry in Glycoscience: New Developments and Strategies”
Edited by Z. J. Witczak, R. Bielski, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2013.
Thio-Click Chemistry Overview and Perspectives” Z. J. Witczak, in “Click Chemistry in Glycoscience: New Developments and Strategies” Edited by Z. J. Witczak, R. Bielski, John Wiley & Sons,
New York, 2013.
Strategies of Coupling Molecular Units when later Decoupling is needed” R. Bielski, Z. J. Witczak, Chem.
Rev. 2013, 113, 2205.
Mycalamides, Pederin and Psymberin as Natural Carbohydrates and Potential Antitumor Agents:
Past and Future Perspectives” Z. J. Witczak, R. M. Rampulla, A. Bommareddy, Mini Review in
Medicinal Chemistry, 12, (14), 1520-1532, 2012.
Thio-click Approach to Glycomimetics” Z. J. Witczak, Phosporus, Sulfur & Silicon and the
related Elements, 188, 237-244, 2012.
Lecture Presentation :
Chiral building blocks from L-arabinose for thio-click functionalization” Z. J. Witczak, presented
245th ACS National Meeting, April 7-11, 2013, New Orleans, LA, Abstract CARB-,
at
Dr Arthur H. Kibbe
Poster Presentation: B. Beidel, J. Bohan, E. Thudium, C. D’Ippolito, A. VanWert, H. Jacobs, and A.H. Kibbe Liquid dosage forms intended for pediatric use: Lisinopril & Meclazine
presented at APHA, 2011.
Dr. Ajay Bommareddy
Publication:
Santha S, Bommareddy A, Rule B, Guillermo R, Kaushik RS, Young A, Dwivedi C. Antineoplastic
effects of α-santalol on estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen receptor- negative breast cancer
cells through cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and induction of apoptosis. PLoS 8(2): e56982.
2013
Wolman AT, Gionfriddo MR, Heindel GA, Mukhija P, Witkowski S, Bommareddy A, Vanwert AL. Organic anion transporter (OAT3) interacts selectively with lipophilic β-Lactam antibiotics. Drug Metabolism and Disposition Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 41(4):791-800, 2013.
Witczak ZJ, Rampulla RM, Bommareddy A. Mycalamides, Pederin and Psymberin as Natural Carbohydrates and Potential Antitumor Agents: Past and Future Perspectives. Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, 12 (14): 1320-32, 2012.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Special Research Project Conducted by our Students
Students from the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, under the direction of Marie Thomas, Ph.D., have embarked on a research project involving pain medication and daVinci® Robotic Surgery. Mohamed Jalloh and Paul
Boylan, two P3 students, have been working with Dr. Clark Gerhart of Surgical Specialists of Wyoming Valley, in
collecting data on the first fifty robotic cases for cholecystectomy versus the first fifty cases done with traditional
single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS). Dr. Gerhart is a board certified general surgeon who has extensive
training in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery. Students are collecting data on operating room times, cost, anesthesia time, blood loss, diagnosis, complications and pain medication given in the recovery room.
The introduction of minimally invasive surgical techniques has led to smaller and fewer incisions being used for
general surgical procedures. Single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) has taken this progression to its ultimate
conclusion of only one incision in the abdominal wall. Single site techniques have been reported as safe and feasible alternatives to standard four port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (Ikeda, et al, 2013; Kurpiewski, et al, 2012;
Chuang, 2013; Van Den Boezem, et al, 2012; Culp, et al, 2012). However, the SILS techniques have not been
widely accepted into common practice and it has been suggested that the steep learning curve, longer operative
times, and increased costs have limited its use (Culp, et al, 2012; Chang, et al, 2012). Recent reports of increased
bile duct injuries (Phillips, et al, 2012) have raised significant concerns about the use of SILS cholecystectomy in
common practice.
The concept of single incision surgery is still appealing to minimally invasive surgeons, however, who would still like
their patients to experience the benefits shown to accompany single incision procedures such as improved cosmesis, less pain, quicker recovery, and improved patient satisfaction. (Culp, et al, 2012; Madureira, et al, 2013; Vilallonga, et al, 2012; Ikeda, et al, 2012). In an attempt to retain these benefits, robotic instrumentation has been
developed that allows single incision laparoscopic surgery to be performed with greater dexterity due to the wristed
articulation of the laparoscopic instruments. Initial reports have suggested that robotic instrumentation will allow
single incision procedures to be performed with similar advantages and potentially safer than the SILS procedures
(Pietrabissa, et al, 2012;Spinoglio, et al, 2012;Spinoglio, et al, 2008).
Robotic assisted cholecystectomy is a new, single incision approach to removal of the gallbladder. Students from
the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, under the direction of Dr. Marie Thomas, have embarked on a research project
involving pain medication and daVinci® Robotic Surgery. Mohamed Jalloh and Paul Boylan, two P3 students, have
been working with Dr. Clark Gerhart of Surgical Specialists of Wyoming Valley, in collecting data on the first fifty
robotic cases for cholecystectomy versus the first fifty cases done with traditional single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS). Students are collecting data on operating room times, cost, anesthesia time, blood loss, diagnosis,
complications and pain medication given in the recovery room.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Here are some students from WEBS dosing an orange with water! The orange is a good tool to
practice with because it simulates natural skin.
By Jacqueline Ruane
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Ajay Bommareddy and students William Eggelston, Stacy Prelewicz, Andrea Antal presented a
poster on “Chemoprevention of prostate carcinogenesis in TRAMP mice by α-santalol by causing
cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis” at the 104th annual American Association for Cancer
Research (AACR) conference held at Washington D.C (April 9th 2013).