Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Phd Positions
Click here for current PhD opportunities in PHA. But feel free to email me to discuss projects outside these areas and alternative sources of funding.
Sheng obtained her BEng. (Hons) in Industrial Pharmacy in 2001 (China Pharmaceutical University). After completing her PhD in 2004 (Queen’s University of Belfast) in the area of lipid based microparticulate drug delivery systems, Sheng worked as a postdoctoral scientist studying the structure and stability of amorphous polymer-drug dispersions. In 2007 Sheng joined the School of Pharmacy at UEA as a lecturer and was promoted to senior lecturer in 2013. Sheng has worked closely with leading pharmaceutical and excipient companies in the areas of pharmaceutical processing, physicochemical characterisation, and formulation development.
Sheng’s current research interests mainly focus on gaining a fundamental understanding of the behaviour of drug-polymer/lipid dispersions in solid (phase behaviour) and liquid (in biological fluids) states, and developing new approaches for stabilising supersaturated drug dispersions. By working with industrial partners as well as cross-discipline collaborators, her group is aiming to contribute to the interdisciplinary research area of enhancing drug absorption via tailoring the physical chemistry of drug formulations.
Current research interests include
- Hot melt extrusion/injection moulding for drug delivery
- Electrospinning and electrospray-formulation design and processing control
- Drug-polymer/lipid solubility and miscibility
- Phase separation behaviour of polymer-drug dispersions
- Polymer facilitated drug solubilisation in biological fluids
- Lipid-based liquid crystalline platform for drug delivery
- Effect of manufacturing processes on stability of amorphous pharmaceuticals
Key Research Interests
Material science:
- Solubility enhancement of poorly soluble drugs
- Drug-polymer/lipid solubility and miscibility
- Phase separation behaviour of polymer-drug dispersions
- Polymer facilitated drug solubilisation in biological fluids
- Microstructure and geometry controlled drug delivery system
- Pharmaceutical applications of novel natural polymers
Pharmaceutical process engineering science:
- Pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion and injection moulding
- Electrohydrodynamic processes for micro and nanoscale formulations manufacturing
- FDM 3D printing of pharmaceutical solid dosage forms
- Freeze drying of low density matrix system
Research Funding
Norwich Research Park (NRP) Translation Fund (PI)
Development of electrospun therapeutic masks; Jan 2017- Oct 2017
£50,000
INTERREG (EU) (PI)
Innovative Multi-component Drug Design (IMODE) ; Oct 2016-Oct 2019
£592,900.39
Click here to go to the IMODE research page.
Royal Society & Newton Foundation (co-PI)
Oral cancer therapy; Mar 2016-Mar 2019
£120,000
Royal Society (PI)
International Exchange Grant: Engineering nanostructured bio-responsive matrices for oral delivery of chemotherapy
Mar 2015-Mar 2017
£12,000
UEA proof-of-concept fund (PI)
Drug eluting contact lenses for galucoma treatment 2015-2016
£23,460.36
INTERREG (EU) (PI)
Advanced Material and Pharmaceutical Technology Cluster
Jan 2014-July 2015
£38,000
INTERREG (EU) (co-PI)
IDEA: Improving drugs efficacy and availability
Jun 2009-Jun 2013
£160,218.39
Evonik Industries (Germany) (PI)
Drug-polymer miscibility and its relationship with the physicochemical stability of solid dispersions
Oct 2009-Sep 2012
£75,202.01
Evonik Industries (Germany) (PI)
Nano-characterisation of hot melt extruded formulations
Jan 2007-Apr 2009
£23,040.55
Areas of Expertise
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Using Digital Technologies to Accelerate Healthy Snack Product Innovation
1/09/24 → 28/02/26
Project: Research
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3D Printing of Pharmaceutical and Drug Delivery Devices: Progress from Bench to Bedside
Lamprou, D. A. (ed.), Douroumis, D. (ed.) & Qi, S. (ed.), Jul 2024, Wiley.Research output: Book/Report › Book
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An investigation into the effects of ink formulations of semi-solid syringe extrusion 3D printing on the performance of the printed solid dosage forms
Zhang, B., Belton, P. S., Teoh, X. Y., Gleadall, A., Bibb, R. J. & Qi, S., 7 Jan 2024, In: Journal of Materials Chemistry B. 12, 1, p. 131-144 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile9 Citations (Scopus)8 Downloads (Pure) -
Selectively coated contact lenses by nanoelectrospray (nES) to fabricate drug-eluting contact lenses for treating ocular diseases
Tam, C. H., Alexander, M. S., Sanderson, J. & Qi, S., Feb 2024, In: Medical Engineering and Physics. 124, 104110.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile9 Downloads (Pure) -
Using a systematic and quantitative approach to generate new insights into drug loading of PLGA nanoparticles using nanoprecipitation
Hamdallah, S. I., Zoqlam, R., Yang, B., Campbell, A., Booth, R., Booth, J., Belton, P. & Qi, S., 21 Jun 2024, In: Nanoscale Advances. 6, 12, p. 3188-3198 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Downloads (Pure) -
Interaction of polymers with bile salts - Impact on solubilisation and absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs
Pigliacelli, C., Belton, P., Wilde, P., Baldelli Bombelli, F., Kroon, P. A., Winterbone, M. S. & Qi, S., Feb 2023, In: Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 222, 113044.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Citations (Scopus)9 Downloads (Pure)
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16th International workshop on solid-state characterization of pharmaceutical material (IWPCPS), Prague
Sheng Qi (Invited speaker)
Jun 2014Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop or seminar
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RSC Thermal Method Group TAC conference
Sheng Qi (Invited speaker)
Mar 2014Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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UK-Pharm Sci, Edinburgh
Sheng Qi (Invited speaker)
Sep 2013Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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IDEA Conference, Lille
Sheng Qi (Invited speaker)
Jun 2013Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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Invited talk at Aston University
Sheng Qi (Invited speaker)
May 2013Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Invited talk