College:  New Zealand’s National School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, New Zealand

Email: golse032@student.otago.ac.nz

Thesis title:

Designing a parenteral formulation of the nootropic drug aniracetam using cyclodextrins

Project description:

Aniracetam is a nootropic drug that alleviates cognitive and memory impairments in patients with pre-existing behavioural deficits. Few studies have reported on aniracetam’s pharmacology and clinical uses despite an accumulation of promising results.  Pharmacokinetic studies are therefore needed to further understand the ADME properties of aniracetam and its potential therapeutic applications. Unfortunately such studies are restricted to the oral route of administration due to aniracetam being practically insoluble in water. Consequently a bioavailability of only 0.2% is achieved, leading to erratic pK profiles.

With this in mind, the aim of this study is to design a solution based i.v formulation of aniracetam that can be used for subsequent pharmacokinetic studies. The approach used to enhance aniracetam’s solubility will be complexation, utilizing cyclodextrins.