Primary fields of research

My main research interest is the application of advanced analytical chemistry for the characterization of drug products and the identification of falsified/substandard products. This entails the use of isotope ratios (δ1³C, δ²H, δ¹⁸O, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb), trace element patterns, and API impurities as markers/tracers for drug formulation, production process, and geographical origin. Part of this research is the application of ICPMS/ICPOES based instrumentation for determination of trace elemental impurities in drug products and the compliance with the current pharmacopeia requirements.

Other research interests are the uptake, biotransformation and cytotoxicity of metal-based drugs (e.g. platinum drugs and metal containing nanoparticles) and development of novel drug delivery vehicles e.g. nanoparticles, metal-complexes, and metallacages.

In terms of instrumentation this entails application of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS also SP-ICPMS) often coupled to separation techniques such as Capillary Electrophoresis (CE), Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) or High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Teaching

Supervision

7 PhD students and 34 master students, most recent master students are:

Mona Dina Rachid. Development of a preconcentration method (SPE) for ICPMS determination of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios in pharmaceuticals

Anum Habib. Development of an ICP-MS/MS method for determination of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic ratio in pharmaceutical drugs and preconcentration of Sr using extraction chromatography.

Mohammad Akil Al-Badran. Development and validation of an analytical methodology capable of reliably determining ppm levels on iron in pharmaceutical APIs.

Halima Sahdia. Development and optimization of a microwave-assisted acid digestion for ibuprofen tablets followed by trace elements determination using ICP-MS.

Saraa Mohamad Harbi. Indirect HPLC method for determination of hydrogen peroxide content in pharmaceutical excipients.

Teaching at Pharmaschool, University of Copenhagen

Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry (Bachelor)

Kemiske Principper (Bachelor)

CV

Education:

• Ph.D. (1999), Department of Chemistry, The Technical University of Denmark.
• M.Sc. (1991), Department of Chemistry, The Technical University of Denmark.

Employment:

• Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2005 - present
• Research Assistant Professor and Laboratory Director for the Dartmouth Trace Element Analysis Core Facility, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA, 2000 - 2004.
• Senior Scientist/Scientist, Department of Plant Biology and Biogeochemistry, Risø National Laboratory, Roskilde, Denmark, 1995 - 2000.
• Research Associate, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Institute of Food Chemistry and Nutrition, Søborg, Denmark, 1992 - 1995
• Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, The Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark, 1992.