Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy

Faculties Faculty of Pharmacy Departments Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy

Колектив на катедра по фармацевтични науки, ФФ, Медицински университет - Пловдив
Колектив на катедра по фармацевтични науки, ФФ, Медицински университет – Пловдив

Contacts

e-mail : [email protected]
Phone :032/200 768

The Department was established as a part of the Faculty of Pharmacy by a decision of the Academic Board of MU-Plovdiv from March 2005 with the name Department of Pharmaceutical sciences.

Its purpose is to provide students with education in the following disciplines: „Pharmaceutical technology and Biopharmacy“, „Social pharmacy and Pharmaceutical legislation“, „Pharmacognosy“, „Pharmaceutical chemistry and analysis“. The first Department Council was held in March 2008, when Assoc. Prof. Margarita Kassarova, PhD was elected as the first Head of the Department. In 2014, as a result of the increasing number of the academic staff and the heterogeneous profile of the disciplines, the sections Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical chemistry were separated from the Department of Pharmaceutical sciences and formed a new structural unit within the Faculty of Pharmacy and in 2024 Section „Social pharmacy and Pharmaceutical legislation“ formed a new Department of Organization and economics of pharmacy.

In 2025, the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences was renamed to Department оf Pharmaceutical Technology аnd Biopharmacy. The academic staff consists of 8 people, who take part in the teaching of 6 disciplines.

Education

Academic standarts

Syllabus

Exam syllabus

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences takes part in the education of Pharmacy students from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University-Plovdiv. The academic staff of the Department participate in the teaching of the following disciplines:

  • Pharmaceutical technology – part I;
  • Pharmaceutical technology – part II;
  • Biopharmacy
  • Pharmaceutical calculations;
  • Technology of medical cosmetics;
  • Drug delivery systems.

For the students’ training in each discipline, the Department has a number of specialized, modernly equipped laboratories – Laboratory for pharmaceutical technology, Laboratory for solid dosage forms, Laboratory for sterile forms, Laboratory for Biopharmacy.
The laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for practical exercises and scientific research, which is a prerequisite for generating highly educated and competent specialists in the field of Pharmacy.
The Department is a base for postgraduate training of Master Pharmacists in the specialization „Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy”.
The Department is a base for training of PhD students in the accredited doctoral program: „Pharmaceutical technology and Biopharmacy”.

Academic staff

Assoc. Prof. Plamen Dimitrov Katsarov, PhD – Head of Department

phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

Chief Assist. Prof. Dimitar Georgiev Penkov, PhD – Administrative Assistant and Responsible for measurement and monitoring resources

phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

Chief Assist. Prof. Petya Todorova Peneva, PhD – Responsible for quality control

phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

Chief Assist. Prof. Yana Zhekova Gvozdeva, PhD – Responsible for educational activities

phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

Chief Assist. Prof. Nikolay Stanchev Zahariev, PhD – Responsible for research activities, Responsible for International Cooperation and Project Activity and Responsible for measurement and monitoring resources

ас. Николай Станчев Захариев
phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

Chief Assist. Prof. Radka Petkova Boyuklieva, PhD – Responsible for the Web page and Electronic system

phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

Assist Prof. Plamen Rosenov Simeonov – Responsible for Healthy and Safe Working Conditions and Fire Safety

phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

Assist. Prof. Stanislava Valerieva Simeonova

phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

Petya Dimitrova Georgieva – Lecturer

phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

Stefan Kostadinov Iliev – Lecturer

phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

NON-ACADEMIC STAFF

Mariela Kostadinova Nikolova – Specialist in Biology

phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

Radka Petrova Ivanova – Assistant Pharmacist

phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

Ivanka Hristova Atanasova – Assistant Pharmacist

phone: 032/200 768
e-mail: [email protected]

Research

The research focus of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy is on improving the effectiveness of drug substances by incorporating them into innovative drug delivery systems. Micro- and nanocarriers technology is an up-to-date approach to overcome the biopharmaceutical limitations of the drugs and the physiological barriers, associated with the administration route and the site of drug absorption.
Phytopreparations are also a field of research in the department. The influence of technological factors on the extraction of biologically active substances and their incorporation into convenient dosage forms are being studied.

In recent years, research has concentrated on several new directions. Various methods are being explored to mask the unpleasant taste of medicinal substances, enhancing their acceptance among specific patient populations. Additionally, models for orodispersible tablets are being developed as a modern innovation in the industry. The encapsulation of essential oils within polymer microstructures to improve their physical stability is also investigated. Developing innovative drug carriers for targeted cancer therapy also represents a promising new direction.

Another research area of the department is the preparation of semi-solid dosage forms for topical application: hydrogels, organogels, emulgels and bigels with high stability and improved biopharmaceutical properties.

To conduct valuable research, the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences has three scientific laboratories with state-of-the-art research equipment – Scientific laboratory in Pharmaceutical technology, Laboratory for standardization of phytoproducts at the Technological Center for Emergency Medicine.

The academic staff of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy has published in the recent years more than 150 articles in scientific journals, 50% of which have an impact factor. Тhe scientific works have been cited by foreign authors more than 500 times. The results from the research work of the Department have been presented at more than 200 scientific forums. The Department has participated in many scientific projects, 3 of which with national funding and 2 with European funding.

Textbooks

Publications

  • Katsarov P, Pilicheva B, Uzunova Y, Gergov G, Kassarova M. Doxylamine/pyridoxine loaded chitosan microspheres as potential nasal drug delivery systems. Bulg Chem Communic. 2017, 49(Special Edition B), pp. 96-102. IF=0.238 (2016)
  • Andonova V, Peneva P, Apostolova E, Dimcheva T, Peychev Z, Kassarova M. Carbopol hydrogel/sorbitan monostearate-almond oil based organogel biphasic formulations: Preparation and characterization of the bigels. Trop J Pharm Res 2017; 16(7):1455-1463. IF=0.569 (2016)
  • Andonova V, Peneva P, Georgiev S, Toncheva T, Apostolova E, Peychev Z, Dimitrova S, Katsarova M, Petrova N, Kassarova M. Ketoprofen-loaded polymer carriers in bigel formulation: an approach to enhancing drug photostability in topical application forms. Int J Nanomedicine 2017; 12:6221-6238. DOI:10.2147/IJN.S140934. IF=4.300 (2016)
  • Andonova V, Peneva P. Characterization methods for solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC). Curr Pharm Des 2017 Nov 14. DOI: 10.2174/13816128236661 71115105721. IF=2.611 (2016)
  • Peneva P, Andonova V, Dimcheva T, Kassarova M. Technological and biopharmaceutical characterization of carbopol-based ketoprofen emulgels. Indian journal of Pharmaceutical education and Research 2018; 52(2):212-217. IF=0.351 (2017)
  • Katsarov P, Gergov G, Alin A, Pilicheva B, Al-Degs Y, Simeonov V, Kassarova M. Advanced spectrophotometric chemometric methods for resolving the binary mixture of doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride. Acta Pharm, 2018, 68(1), pp. 61-73.https://doi.org/10.2478/acph-2018-0008. IF=1.071 (2017)
  • Katsarov P, Pilicheva B, Uzunova Y, Gergov G, Kassarova M. Chemical cross-linking: A feasible approach to prolong doxylamine/pyridoxine release from spray-dried chitosan microspheres. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2018,123, pp. 387-394. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2018.07.059. IF=3.466 (2017)
  • Gergov G, Alin A, Katsarov P, Simeonov V, Yankov D, Al-Degs Y. Net analyte signal-based methods for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol, propyphenazone and caffeine by UV spectrophotometry. Bulgarian chemical communications. 2018, 50(2): 265-273. IF=0.242 (2017)
  • Alin А, Agostinelli C, Gergov G, Katsarov P, Al-Degs Y. Robust multivariate diagnostics for PLSR and application on high dimensional spectrally overlapped drug systems. Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation. 2019, 89, 6, 966-984. https://doi.org/10.1080/00949655.2019.1576682. IF=0.767 (2018)
  • Georgieva Y, Kassarova M, Kokova V, Apostolova E, Pilicheva B. Taste masking of enalapril maleate by microencapsulation in Eudragit EPO® microparticles. Die Pharmazie – An International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2020, 75 (2-3), pp. 61-69(9). IF=0.198 (2019)
  • Katsarov P, Shindova M, Lukova P, Belcheva A, Delattre C, Pilicheva B. Polysaccharide-Based Micro- and Nanosized Drug Delivery Systems for Potential Application in the Pediatric Dentistry. Polymers 2021, 13, 3342. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13193342 IF=4.329 (2020)
  • Pilicheva B, Boyuklieva R. Can the Nasal Cavity Help Tackle COVID-19? Pharmaceutics. 2021; 13(10):1612. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13101612. IF=6.321 (2020)
  • Pilicheva B, Uzunova Y, Katsarov P. Comparative Study on Microencapsulation of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) Essential Oils via Spray-Drying Technique. Molecules. 2021; 26(24):7467. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26247467. IF=4.411 (2020)
  • Marudova M, Zahariev N, Milenkova S, Pilicheva B, Viraneva A, Yovcheva T. Development and In‐Vitro Characterization of Benzydamine Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles. Macromolecular Symposia, Volume 395, Issue 1 Special Issue: Progress on Polymers and Composites Products and Manufacturing Technologies — POLCOM, Part I, February 2021, DOI: 10.1002/masy.202000279. IF=0.846 (2020)
  • Zahariev N, Marudova M, Milenkova S, Uzunova Y, Pilicheva B. Casein Micelles as Nanocarriers for Benzydamine Delivery. Polymers 2021, 13, 4357. DOI: 10.3390/ polym13244357. IF=4.329 (2020)
  • Boyuklieva R, Pilicheva B. Micro- and Nanosized Carriers for Nose-to-Brain Drug Delivery in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Biomedicines 2022, 10, 1706. https://doi.org/10.3390/ biomedicines10071706. IF=4.757 (2021)
  • Gvozdeva Y, Kassarova M, Pilicheva B. Formulation of Enalapril-Loaded Microspheres Using Emulsion Solvent Evaporation Technique for Bitter Taste Masking. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2022 Nov 1;84(6). IF=0.664 (2021)
  • Lukova P, Katsarov P. Contemporary Aspects of Designing Marine Polysaccharide Microparticles as Drug Carriers for Biomedical Application. Pharmaceutics. 2023;15(8): 2126. https://doi.org/10.3390/ pharmaceutics15082126. Q1; IF =5.4 (2022)
  • Zahariev N, Draganova M, Zagorchev P, Pilicheva B. Casein-Based Nanoparticles: A Potential Tool for the Delivery of Daunorubicin in Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Pharmaceutics 2023, 15 (2), art. no. 471, DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020471. IF=5.4 (2022)
  • Milenkova S, Zahariev N, Ambrus R, Pilicheva B, Marudova M. A Study on the Stoichiometry of Casein/Chitosan Gel Complexes as a Delivery System for Quercetin, Applied Sciences (Switzerland) 2023, 13 (19), art. no. 10868, DOI: 10.3390/app131910868. IF=2.7 (2022)
  • Penkov D, Lukova P, Manev H, Dimitrova S, Kassarova M. Polymer Tablet Matrix Systems for the Controlled Release of Dry Betula pendula Leaf Extract. Polymers 2023, 15, 3558. https://doi.org/10.3390/ polym15173558. IF=5 (2022)
  • Cabrera-Barjas G, Becherán L, Valdés O, Giordano A, Segura R, Bravo-Arrepol G, Durán-Lara EF, Cea J, Berg A, Castaños J, Rodríguez-Llamazares S, Fuentes G, Katsarov P, Lukova P, De-lattre C. Effect of cellulose nanofibrils on vancomycin drug release from chitosan nanocomposite films. European Polymer Journal. 2023; 197: 112371. Q1; IF=6.0 (2022)
  • Lukova P, Katsarov P, Pilicheva B. Application of Starch, Cellulose, and Their Derivatives in the Development of Microparticle Drug-Delivery Systems, Polymers 2023, 15 (17), art. no. 3615, DOI: 10.3390/polym15173615. IF=5.0 (2022)
  • Boyuklieva R, Zagorchev P, Pilicheva B. Computational, In Vitro, and In Vivo Models for Nose-to-Brain Drug Delivery Studies. Biomedicines 2023, 11 (8), art. no. 2198, DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082198. IF=4.7 (2022)
  • Zahariev N, Katsarov P, Lukova P, Pilicheva B. Novel Fucoidan Pharmaceutical Formulations and Their Potential Application in Oncology—A Review. Polymers 2023, 15 (15), art. no. 3242, DOI: 10.3390/polym15153242. IF=5 (2022)
  • Boyuklieva R, Hristozova A, Pilicheva B. Synthesis and Characterization of PCL-Idebenone Nanoparticles for Potential Nose-to-Brain Delivery. Biomedicines 2023, 11 (5), art. no. 1491, DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051491. IF=4.7 (2022)
  • Grancharova T, Simeonova S, Pilicheva B, Zagorchev P. Gold Nanoparticles in Parkinson’s Disease Therapy: A Focus on Plant-Based Green Synthesis. Cureus, 2024, 16(2). DOI:10.7759/cureus.54671. IF=1.2 (2023)
  • Milenkova S, Tashkov S, Zahariev N, Pilicheva B, Marudova M. 5-FLUOROURACIL ENCAPSULATED CHITOSAN MICROSPHERES. Journal of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 2024, 59(4), pp.887-896. DOI:10.59957/jctm.v59.i4.2024.19. IF=0.69 (2023)
  • Zahariev N, Pilicheva B. A Novel Method for the Preparation of Casein–Fucoidan Composite Nanostructures. Polymers, 2024, 16(13), p.1818. DOI:10.3390/polym16131818. IF=4.7 (2023)
  • Boyuklieva R, Katsarov P, Zagorchev P, Abarova S, Hristozova A, Pilicheva B. Idebenone-Loaded Nanocomposite Microspheres for Nasal Administration-A Perspective in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. Discovery Medicine 2024, 36(187):1572-1587. DOI:10.24976/Discov.Med.202436187.144. IF=2.0 (2023)
  • Boyuklieva R, Katsarov P, Zagorchev P, Abarova S, Hristozova A, Pilicheva B. Development of Nanocomposite Microspheres for Nasal Administration of Deferiprone in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Journal of Functional Biomaterials 2024, 15(11):329. DOI:10.3390/jfb15110329. IF=5.0 (2023)
  • Lukova P, Kokova V, Baldzhieva A, Murdjeva M, Katsarov P, Delattre C, Apostolova E. Alginate from Ericaria crinita Possesses Antioxidant Activity and Attenuates Systemic Inflammation via Downregulation of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines. Marine Drugs 2024, 22(11):482. DOI: 10.3390/md22110482. IF=4.9 (2023)
  • Gvozdeva Y, Staynova R. pH-Dependent Drug Delivery Systems for Ulcerative Colitis Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(2):226. DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics17020226. IF=4.9 (2023)

Monographs

  • Кassarova M, Andonova V, Pilicheva B, Penkov D, Peneva P, Katsarov P, Naydenov T, Stoymenova А. (2015) Иновативни лекарствени носители (Innovative drug carriers). ТЕА Дизайн, Sofia, ISBN: 978-954-916-608
  • Pilicheva B, Draganova М. (2017) Лекарствени носители във фокуса на таргетната терапия (Drug carriers in the focus of the target therapy). 2 по 2 ЕООД, Plovdiv, ISBN: 978-619-186-365-5
  • Katsarov P, Lukova P. (2023) Полизахаридни микроносители за лекарствена доставка (Polysaccharide microcarriers for drug delivery). Лакс Бук, Пловдив, ISBN: 978-619-189-217-4
PHD dissertations in Pharmaceutical technology and Biopharmacy

  • Andonova V. (2014) Nanoparticles with indomethacin – drug delivery systems for ophthalmic administration.
  • Pilicheva B. (2015) Bioadhesive microparticles for nasal delivery of betahistine.
  • Katsarov P. (2017) Polymer microspheres with doxylamine and pyridoxine for nasal administration.
  • Penkov D. (2020) Technological studies of Betula pendula leaf extracts and investigation of their biological activity.
  • Gvozdeva Y. (2021) Approaches for taste masking of enalapril maleate in orodispersible tablets for pediatric practice.
  • Peneva P. (2022) Emulgels and bigels – an optimized approach for dermal application of ketoprofen.
  • Boyuklieva R. (2024) Bioadhesive microspheres for targeted nose-to-brain drug delivery
  • Zahariev N. (2024) Nanosized carriers for targeted drug delivery for antitumor therapy.