Dr Vivek Trivedi

About

Dr Vivek Trivedi obtained his bachelor in pharmacy from the Shri G.S. Institute of Technology and Science, India (Rajiv Gandhi Technical University). He moved to the UK in 2003 to pursue MSc in Pharmaceutical Science after a short stint with Dr Reddy’s Lab Ltd. India, where he worked as a scientific representative. After the completion of his MSc, he joined Phoqus Pharmaceutical Plc as a development scientist in the product development department. Here he was responsible for the development and characterisation of formulations via proprietary electrostatic dry powder deposition technology (EDPDT). During his stay in Phoqus he worked on projects sponsored by Unilever, Cordis and GSK. Dr Trivedi obtained his PhD in 2009 whilst working on the development of novel drug delivery systems for the oral delivery of biomolecules.

Dr Trivedi was appointed as a lecturer in Formulation science in 2010 at the School of Science, University of Greenwich, where he stayed till 2019 before moving to the Medway School of Pharmacy in April 2019.

Dr Trivedi’s research interests include development of novel platforms for the non-parenteral (e.g. oral and nasal) delivery of biomolecules and dissolution improvement of BCS class II drugs. He has published a number of research articles and regularly presents in numerous national and international conferences.

Research interests

Dr Trivedi's research focuses on the application of novel green technologies such as supercritical fluids in the material processing and learning the fundamentals that could be used in the development of drug delivery systems. Supercritical fluids are defined as substances above their critical pressure and temperature and can be used as a suitable media for the processing of various pharmaceutically important molecules. Dr Trivedi is primarily interested in the application of CO2 due to its low critical pressure and temperature. Supercritical CO2 also provides non-aqueous, organic solvent and oxygen free environment for the processing of pharmaceutical actives.

Dr Trivedi is interested in the development of non-invasive drug delivery systems for biomolecules (e.g. proteins and peptides). He developed a platform known as Solid Core Drug Delivery System (SCDDS) for the safe and sustained delivery of biomolecules in the intestine. The preparation of SCDDS entails immobilisation of biomolecules onto mesoporous particles followed by coating with suitable excipients to obtain enteric properties. This approach can potentially provide safe passage to a biological molecule into the intestine where it can be released and absorbed. Another research interest of his involves development of strategies to improve dissolution rate of lipophilic APIs such as by the preparation of cyclodextrin-drug complexes and amorphous solid dispersions in solvent free media i.e. in supercritical CO2.

Current externally funded projects include, development of oleo-gels for the nasal delivery of biomolecules such as antisense nucleotide and siRNA and the development of novel composite particles for the oral delivery of biomolecules.

Teaching

Dr Trivedi teaches pharmaceutics related topic in all four stages of MPharm programme.

Professional

Memberships of editorial boards and professional bodies.
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
• Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC).
• Member of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Science (MAPS).
• Member of the International Society for Advancement of Supercritical Fluids (ISASF).
• Member of the UK chapter of the Controlled Release Society (UKICRS).
• Member of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences (EUFEPS).
• Committee Member of the Formulation Science & Technology Group (FSTG).