Ionic Innovations: Next-Generation Drug Delivery

Ionic liquids (ILs) and Deep Eutectic solvents (DES) have recently been used as drug delivery vectors with formulations that can allow effective transdermal action, with high potency to enhance skin permeation and low tendency to induce skin irritation (doi: 10.1002/adfm.202004257), with the advantages of non-invasiveness, ease of application and termination, and avoidance of first-pass metabolism encountered by oral delivery. Other formulations enable targeted delivery, through piggy-backing on existing biological systems (doi: 10.1002/advs.202305484). However, why some ionic solvents are appropriate for drug delivery and others are not is not yet fully understood. As part of our team, you will use computational chemistry, including molecular dynamics and chemometrics techniques, to more broadly understand the structuring within medically-relevant ionic solvents, and how this structuring relates to macroscopic properties relating to medicines stability and efficacy. You will establish design rules for the next generation of drug-delivery agents, as part of a broader collaboration with the University of Mississippi. As the project is multidisciplinary, training will be provided as required. You will also have a range of opportunities to gain valuable transferrable skills (including through our doctoral college), network with international and industry partners, and be well-set up for a role in either industry, data science or academia at the end of the programme. 94% of Loughborough’s research impact is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. REF 2021

The standard University IELTS English language requirement is 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each individual element (reading, writing, listening and speaking).

International students: £29,500

UK students: £5,238

UK/Home: £5,238

International: £29,500

July 2026, October 2027

3 August 2026

• Loughborough, United Kingdom