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Department of Pharmaceutics

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Introduction Department of Pharmaceutics

The Department of Pharmaceutics at KM College of Pharmacy focuses on the formulation, manufacturing, and evaluation of pharmaceutical products. It includes drug delivery systems, packaging, and quality assurance. The department provides both theoretical knowledge and practical training to develop safe and effective medicines for healthcare applications.

About The Program

The Department of Pharmaceutics at K.M. College of Pharmacy (KMCP), Madurai, is widely regarded as the "Engine Room" of the institution. While other departments focus on how chemicals work or are identified, Pharmaceutics focuses on the science of dosage form design—turning a raw chemical into a safe, effective, and stable medicine that a patient can actually use.

Overview & Vision

The department is dedicated to bridging the gap between drug discovery and drug delivery. It focuses on training students to understand the physical and chemical properties of drugs and how to manipulate them to ensure the medicine reaches the right part of the body at the right time.

Our Vision: To produce skilled pharmaceutical technologists capable of innovating in the fields of traditional dosage forms and advanced drug delivery systems to meet global healthcare challenges.

Core Academic Focus

The curriculum at both the B.Pharm and M.Pharm levels is designed to cover the entire lifecycle of a drug product:

Physical Pharmaceutics: Understanding solubility, stability, and the "behavior" of drug molecules.

Pharmaceutical Technology: The engineering aspect—learning how to operate large-scale machinery like tablet presses and coating machines.

Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics: Studying how the body absorbs, distributes, and eliminates the drug.

Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS): Developing "Smart Medicines" like transdermal patches, liposomes, and targeted nanoparticles.

Laboratory & Research Facilities

The department boasts well-equipped laboratories that simulate an industrial R&D environment. Key facilities include:

Formulation Lab: Equipped with tablet punching machines, capsule filling machines, and ointment filling units.

Unit Operations Lab: Featuring heavy equipment like ball mills, tray dryers, and double cone blenders to teach industrial-scale manufacturing.

Advanced Research Lab (PG): Houses sophisticated instruments for characterization, such as Dissolution Test Apparatus, Disintegration Testers, and Stability Chambers.

 Career Pathways

Graduates and post-graduates from the Department of Pharmaceutics are the most sought-after professionals in the Indian pharmaceutical industry, finding roles in:

Formulation & Development (F&D): Designing new drug products.

Production & Manufacturing: Managing the factory floor for mass production.

Regulatory Affairs: Preparing documentation for international drug approvals (USFDA, EMA).

Quality Assurance (QA): Ensuring every batch of medicine meets the required standards.

Dr.A.G.HariHaran

Professor
Department of Pharmaceutics

QualificationM.Pharm., Ph.D.,
Experience– 20 Years Expereince in Academic and
– 05 Years Expereience in Industry
Research Focus

Formulation Development:
• Development of PKPD modeling.
• Bioequivalence and Biowaiver
Protein and peptide drug delivery system Drug Analysis:
• HPLC and UV Method development and validation of chemical and biological compounds
• Metabolite profiling
Accelerated degradation profiling Bioprocess Technology:
• Preliminary Screening and strain improvement techniques
• Bioprocess method development and scale up techniques

Research Areas

Research at the Department of Pharmaceutics at K.M. College of Pharmacy (KMCP), Madurai, is primarily geared toward the practical application of drug delivery science. The department focuses on bridging the gap between a raw chemical substance and a stable, effective medicine that can be mass-produced.

Based on current institutional focus and the specialized equipment available in their PG laboratories, the research areas are categorized into four major pillars:

Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS)

This is a high-priority research area for the department, focusing on "smart" delivery mechanisms that improve patient compliance and drug effectiveness.

Nanotechnology: Development of Nanoparticles, Nano-emulsions, and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) to improve the delivery of drugs that are otherwise difficult for the body to absorb.

Targeted Delivery: Research into systems that deliver drugs specifically to an organ (like the brain or a tumor) while sparing healthy tissue.

Transdermal Patches: Designing medicated adhesive patches that deliver drugs through the skin at a controlled rate.

Advanced Formulation Development

This involves the "meat and potatoes" of pharmaceutics—improving how standard pills and liquids work.

Solubility Enhancement: Utilizing technologies like Solid Dispersion to make poorly soluble drugs dissolve faster in the stomach.

Sustained and Controlled Release: Engineering tablets or capsules that release medicine slowly over 12 to 24 hours, reducing the number of doses a patient needs to take.

Multiparticulate Systems: Research into Pellets and Minitablets which offer more predictable drug release than traditional single-unit tablets.

Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics

Researchers here study the journey of the drug through the human body.

Bioavailability Studies: Measuring how much of a drug actually reaches the bloodstream.

IVIVC (In-Vitro In-Vivo Correlation): Developing laboratory tests (Dissolution) that accurately predict how a drug will behave inside a living human body.

Stability Testing: Investigating how different climates (like India's high humidity) affect the shelf-life of a medicine using specialized Stability Chambers.

Regulatory Affairs & Quality by Design (QbD)

Modern research isn't just about the lab; it’s about the "rules of the game."

Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs: Research into the documentation and legal standards required by the USFDA or Indian CDSCO for new drug approvals.

Data Integrity: Developing systems to ensure that lab results are unhackable and accurate.

Process Validation: Researching the most efficient ways to scale up a drug from a small beaker to a 10,000-liter manufacturing tank.

Specialized Research Infrastructure

The department supports these research areas with a dedicated PG Pharmaceutics Lab featuring:

Probe Sonicators & High-Speed Homogenizers (for Nano-formulations).

Lyophilizers (Freeze Driers) (for stable injectable drugs).

Multi-Station Tablet Punching Machines (for industrial-scale simulation).

Advanced Dissolution Testers (to simulate the human digestive tract).

The Department of Pharmaceutics at K.M. College of Pharmacy (KMCP), Madurai, is equipped with facilities designed to handle the transition of a drug from a pure chemical substance into a finished dosage form (like a tablet or ointment).

The department provides separate laboratories for undergraduate (B.Pharm) and postgraduate (M.Pharm) students, ensuring that research and basic practicals can happen simultaneously.

1. Core Laboratory Facilities

The department features specialized labs for different stages of the formulation process:

  • Formulation & Development (F&D) Lab: Focused on the design of traditional dosage forms like tablets, capsules, and liquid orals.

  • Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) Lab: A specialized unit for advanced research into sustained-release patches, liposomes, and nanotechnology-based delivery.

  • Machine Room: This is the industrial heart of the department. It houses scaled-down versions of industrial machinery to give students hands-on experience with mass manufacturing.

  • Microbiology Lab: Used specifically for sterility testing of injections and ophthalmic (eye) preparations.

2. Key Equipment and Instrumentation

The laboratories are stocked with instruments that meet Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) standards for both teaching and industrial research.

CategoryKey Instruments Available
ManufacturingSingle punch and multi-station rotary tablet machines, capsule filling machines, and ointment filling machines.
Testing & QualityDissolution test apparatus (USP), disintegration testers, friability testers, and Monsanto/Pfizer hardness testers.
ProcessingBall mills, sieve shakers, planetary mixers, and tray dryers.
SterilizationHot air ovens, autoclaves, and Laminar Air Flow (LAF) benches for aseptic work.
Advanced ResearchUV-Visible Spectrophotometers, Brookfield Viscometers (for rheology studies), and high-precision digital balances.
 
3. Specialized Research Capabilities

As the college offers both M.Pharm and Ph.D. programs in Pharmaceutics, the facilities support high-level thesis work in:

  • Biopharmaceutical Studies: Evaluating drug absorption using specialized diffusion cells (e.g., Franz diffusion cells).

  • Stability Chambers: For testing how formulations hold up under different temperature and humidity conditions (accelerated stability testing).

  • Solubility Enhancement: Facilities for solid dispersion and complexation techniques to improve the effectiveness of poorly soluble drugs.

4. Supporting Academic Facilities

  • Departmental Library: In addition to the massive central library, the department maintains a collection of specialized journals and reference books like the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP), British Pharmacopoeia (BP), and USP.

  • Seminar Hall: A dedicated space for postgraduate students to present their research findings and attend guest lectures from industry experts.

  1. Excellence of Chronotherapy in therapeutics, Mahavir Chajjed, Atika Jain, Jyothirmoy Deb and A.G.Hari Haran. International journal of Pharmacology and Biological sciences, (2007).
  2. Phytochemical Investigation and Evaluation of In-vitro Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Flickingeria nodosa Lindl, Chhajed M. R., Gajendra Singh Tomar, Surya Prakash Gautam, Hariharan A. G, Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. Vol.  42(4), (Oct-Dec, 2008), 377-380
  3. Catalytic antibodies as potential therapeutics. Murtuza Ali, A G Hariharan, Neeraj Mishra and Sanjay Jain, Indian Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 8 (july 2009), 253-258.
  4. Effect of elicitation on the production of phyto-constituents through plant tissue culture technique – A review,  Amreen Aijaz, Sanjay Jain, and A.G.Hariharan, International Journal Of Drug Discovery And Herbal Research, Vol. 1(2), (April-June 2011), 84-90
  5. Synergistic Antibacterial Activity of Some Medicinal Plants against Pathogenic Bacterial and Fungal Strains, A.G.Hariharan, Research Gate: Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 1, (2012), 11-14
  6. Comprehensive Review of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, A.G.Hariharan and Sanjay Jain, Research Gate: Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 2, (2012), 19-27
  7. A Basic Approach to the Mathematical Model of Fermentation Kinetics, A.G.Hariharan and Sanjay Jain, Research Gate: Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 2(1), (2013), 12-15
  8. Enhancement of Antioxidant Potential of Soymilk by Fermentation Technology, Sanjay Jain, Neelesh Malviya and A G Hariharan, Inventi Rapid: Nutraceuticals, Vol. 1, (2013), 1-6.
  9. Pharmaceutical Importance of Flax Seed Oil A Review, A.G.Hariharan and Sanjay Jain, Research Gate: Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 2(4), (2014), 23-27.

International
  1. Isolation and Production Optimization of Amylase Producing Bacteria from soil by submerged culture method. A.G.Hari Haran, Sudha Vengurlekar*, Deepali Swarnkar and Sanjay Jain, 6th Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory  Life Sciences Symphosium, Biotechnology: Innovation Applications from Basic Research, Temasek LifeScience Laboratory, Singapore 24th and 25th Jan 2008.
  2. Preliminary phytochemical and Anti ulcer studies on Eclipta alba (Linn), A.G. Hari Haran*, G. Ramesh, T.Ragupathi, G.Pratheesh and V.Sivanad, oral presentation, International conference on Drug Development from Medical Plants – Issues and Problems, 20th to 22nd October 2005, Chennai. Pg -80 (GIL – 1)
  3. Preliminary phytochemical and Anti Fungal studies on Eclipta alba (Linn), A.G. Hari Haran, T.Ragupathi, , V.Sivanad , S.Selvakumar and G. Ramesh*, oral presentation, International conference on Drug Development from Medical Plants – Issues and Problems, 20th to 22nd October 2005, Chennai. Pg -43 (AM - 19)
  4. Preparation and evaluation of immunomicrospheres of carboplatin containing rabbit anti mouse IgG for targeting in daltons lymphoma ascites (DLA), G.Ramesh, A.G.Hari Haran*, S.Harihara sudan and Mahavir Chhajed.                          1st International Pharm. Tech IAPST conference on Drug Delivery and Drug Targeting Research, 19th and 20th January 2008, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. A-105.
National
  1. Indian Pharma biotech industry – academic initiative, development, pitfall and challenges. M.Chhajed*, A.G.Hari Haran, Y.A.Jaliwala, R. Sharma and G.Sharma. AICTE sponsored National Seminar on Academic industry collaboration: Hitherto & Challeneges, 2007. 22nd Sep 2007. PH – A – 105.
  2. Phytochemical Investigation and Evaluation of in-vitro Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Flickingeria nodosa Lindl. M. R. Chhajed , Gajendra Singh Tomar* , Surya Prakash Gautam, A. G. Hari Haran. AICTE Sponsored National Seminar on New trends in Pharmaceutical Sciences held at Nagpur Dec. 2007.
  3. HPTLC Profile of  Flickingeria nodosa  Lindl. M. R. Chhajed , Gajendra Singh Tomar* , Surya Prakash Gautam , A. G. Hari Haran. AICTE Sponsored National Seminar on New trends in Pharmaceutical Sciences held at Nagpur Dec. 2007.
  4. Targeted Drug Delivery for Cancer. Mahavir Chhajed*, A. S. Pagariya, Gajendra Singh Tomar, S. P. Gautam, A. G. Hari Haran. AICTE Sponsored National Seminar on New trends in Pharmaceutical Sciences held at Nagpur Dec. 2007.
  5.  Development and Validation of RPHPLC Method for the Estimation of Vitamin D3 in Bulk Drug and Liquid Formulations, A.G.Hari Haran, Sudha Vengurlekar*, Avnish jain, Rakesh barik and Sanjay Jain. 59th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress, 2007. 20th-23rd December 2007, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. F-84, pg 410.
  1. Ulcerative Colitis: Treatment Concealed in Reverse Pharmacology of Herbal Medicines, Miti Luniya, Sudhakar C.K. A.G. Hariharan, Sanjay Jain AICTE National Seminar, on “Reverse Pharmacology: The Time Tested Way to Drug Discovery and Development -2014” to be held on 22nd August 2014 pg 21
  2. Reverse Pharmacology of Lithium in Mood Disorders, Sourabh Billore*, Sudhakar C.K., A.G.Hariharan, Sanjay Jain, AICTE National Seminar, on “Reverse Pharmacology: The Time Tested Way to Drug Discovery and Development -2014” to be held on 22nd August 2014 pg 23
  3. Review on Possibility of Development of HIV Vaccine, Anjali Goud, Jacky Dumbwani, Sudhakar C.K.,A.G.Hariharan, Sanjay Jain, AICTE National Seminar, on “Reverse Pharmacology: The Time Tested Way to Drug Discovery and Development -2014” to be held on 22nd August 2014 pg 24
  4. Is treatment of Ebola virus (killer Fever) present in Tobacco Plant?, Nidhi Nair, Sudhakar C.K. A.G. Hariharan, Sanjay Jain, AICTE National Seminar, on “Reverse Pharmacology: The Time Tested Way to Drug Discovery and Development -2014” to be held on 22nd August 2014 pg 25
  5. Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Mouthwash with Antimicrobial Activity, Amit Gangwal, Deep Yadav*, Garima Sharma, A G Hariharan, Sudhakar C K, Sanjay Jain, AICTE National Seminar, on “Reverse Pharmacology: The Time Tested Way to Drug Discovery and Development -2014” to be held on 22nd August 2014 pg 38
  6. Dual Penetration Enhancers Synergistically Increase the Permeation of Drug through the Skin for Transdermal Drug Delivery, Sudhakar C.K. A.G. Hariharan, Neelesh Malviya, RN Charyulu, Sanjay Jain, AICTE National Seminar, on “Reverse Pharmacology: The Time Tested Way to Drug Discovery and Development -2014” to be held on 22nd August 2014 pg 48
  7. Auxotrophic Mutation is an Effective Tool for Higher Yield in Bioprocess Technology, Shubham Vaishnav, HariHaran A.G., Sanjay Jain, AICTE National Seminar, on “Reverse Pharmacology: The Time Tested Way to Drug Discovery and Development -2014” to be held on 22nd August 2014 pg 51
  8. Obesity: A Nutritional Disorder concealed with Dietary Imbalance, Miti Luniya, Sudhakar C.K. A.G. Hariharan, Sanjay Jain, ICMR sponsored National Seminar, on Recent Advances in Pharmacotherapy of Diabetes and Obesity-2014, 14th October 2014,pg -37
  9. Pharmacotherapy Treatment of Diabetes, Pratik Vyas, Hemant khambette, A.G. Hariharan, Sudhakar CK, ICMR sponsored National Seminar, on Recent Advances in Pharmacotherapy of Diabetes and Obesity-2014, 14th October 2014,pg -41
  10. Management of obesity, Priya Ambore, Sudhakar CK, A.G. Hariharan, Sanjay Jain ICMR sponsored National Seminar, on Recent Advances in Pharmacotherapy of Diabetes and Obesity-2014, 14th October 2014,pg -44