Dr Clare Hoskins

Title: Lecturer in Pharmaceutics
Phone: 01782 734799
Email:
Location: Hornbeam Building, Room 0.48
Role: MPharm teaching
Contacting me: Phone/Email

I joined the School of Pharmacy as a lecturer in pharmaceutics in 2011. Here I teach on the MPharm course and continue my research interest in nanomedicines. I completed my PhD in pharmaceutics at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland in 2009.  I then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Medical Science and Technology at the University of Dundee. Here I investigated the potential use of magnetic nanoparticles for nerve regeneration in the peripheral nervous system.  Now my work focusses on the investigation into hybrid metallic nanoparticles as multifunctional vehicles for imaging and targeted drug delivery for pancreatic cancer. I am a member of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and the UK and Ireland Controlled Release Society.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth main cancer in the western world. Pancreatic resection is currently the only treatment known for this cancer with only 5-34% of patients surviving 5 years after treatment. Currently the only chemotherapy available clinically is gemcitabine which only proves effective in 23.8% of patients. Therefore there is a huge clinical need for increasing the efficiency of this treatment as well as exploring alternative therapies.

 

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) have become widely studied for biomedical applications in recent years including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), drug and gene therapy. In order for these MNP's to be safe they are coated with materials such as silica and polymers. However, increasing safety concerns over the use of polymer coated MNPs has arisen. For example degradation of the flexible polymer coats results in exposure of iron oxide leading to increased toxicity. This unwanted side effect has led to the recent withdrawal of Feridex®, the clinically used MRI contrast agent. Gold is renowned for its chemical stability and biocompatibility and surface plasmon resonance. Surface coating of the MNPs results in a rigid coat shielding the external environment from the iron oxide. This results in safer particles with increased applications. Surface functionalization of gold nanoparticles can be carried out through thiol (–SH) group conjugation forming relatively stable bonds. When nanoparticles are irradiated, the SPR absorption of Au nanoparticles is followed by rapid conversion of light into heat. In biomedicine this unique property can be exploited for applications such as photo thermal ablation and thermo responsive drug delivery. Clinically, the optimal wavelengths for laser irradiation of AuNPs is within the ‘biological near infrared region (NIR)’. Laser beams inside the NIR window are capable of deep tissue penetration due to the high tramisivity of water and haemoglobin within these wavelengths. This can be exploited for non-invasive or minimally invasive therapy.

 

I am interested in the fabrication of hybrid iron oxide-gold core-shell nanostructures with strong magnetism, biocompatibility and surface plasmon resonance. Conjugation of drug molecules onto particle surface results in the capability for image guided thermoresponsive drug delivery. Preliminary data for these hybrid nanoparticles has highlighted the great potential for pancreatic cancer therapy. Use of these hybrids as delivery vehicles reduces invasive procedures and increases therapeutic efficacy whilst minimising patient side effects.

Selected Publications

  • Barnett C, Gueorguieva M, Lees M, McGarvey D, Hoskins C. 2013. Physical stability, biocompatibility and potential use of hybrid iron oxide-gold nanoparticles as drug carriers. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, Article 1706. doi>
  • Barnett C, Lees M, Curtis A, Kong Thoo Lin P, Cheng WP, Hoskins C. 2013. Poly(allylamine) Magnetomicelles for Image Guided Drug Delivery. Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology.
  • Roach P, McGarvey DJ, Lees MR, Hoskins C. 2013. Remotely triggered scaffolds for controlled degradation and release of pharmaceuticals. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 8585-8602. doi>
  • Hoskins C, Kong Thoo Lin P, Cheng WP. 2012. A review on comb-shaped amphiphilic polymers for hydrophobic drug solubilization. Therapeutic Delivery, 59-79.
  • Chen S, Hoskins C, Wang L, MacDonald MP, Andre P. 2012. A water-soluble temperature nanoprobe based on a multimodal magnetic-luminescent nanocolloid. Chemical Communications, 2501-2503.

Full Publications List show

Journal Articles

  • Barnett C, Gueorguieva M, Lees M, McGarvey D, Hoskins C. 2013. Physical stability, biocompatibility and potential use of hybrid iron oxide-gold nanoparticles as drug carriers. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, Article 1706. doi>
  • Barnett C, Lees M, Curtis A, Kong Thoo Lin P, Cheng WP, Hoskins C. 2013. Poly(allylamine) Magnetomicelles for Image Guided Drug Delivery. Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology.
  • Roach P, McGarvey DJ, Lees MR, Hoskins C. 2013. Remotely triggered scaffolds for controlled degradation and release of pharmaceuticals. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 8585-8602. doi>
  • Hoskins C, Kong Thoo Lin P, Cheng WP. 2012. A review on comb-shaped amphiphilic polymers for hydrophobic drug solubilization. Therapeutic Delivery, 59-79.
  • Chen S, Hoskins C, Wang L, MacDonald MP, Andre P. 2012. A water-soluble temperature nanoprobe based on a multimodal magnetic-luminescent nanocolloid. Chemical Communications, 2501-2503.
  • Hoskins C, Wang L, Cheng WP, Cuschieri A. 2012. Dilemmas in the reliable estimation of the in vitro cell viability in magnetic nanoparticle engineering: which tests and what protocols?. Nanoscale Research Letters, 77.
  • Barnett C, Gueorguieva M, Lees M, Darton R, McGarvey D, Hoskins C. 2012. Effect of hybrid composition on physicochemical properties and morphology of iron oxide-gold nanoparticles. Journal of Nanoparticle Research. doi>
  • Hoskins C, Min Y, Volvick A, McDougall C, Gueorguieva M, Cuschieri A, Wang L. 2012. Hybrid gold-iron oxide nanoparticles as a multifunctional platform for biomedical application. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, Article 27.
  • Hoskins C and Cheng WP. 2012. Implementing Nanotechnology and Novel Drug Delivery Systems to Improve Dissolution and Solubilization. Amercican Pharmaceutical Review.
  • Calatayud MP, Riggio C, Sanz B, Torres TE, Ibarra MR, Hoskins C, Cuschieri A, Wang L, Goya GF. 2012. Magnetic loading of human neuroblastoma cells for magnetically assisted neural guidance.
  • Riggio C, Raffa V, Calatayud MP, Sanz B, Torres TE, Ibarra, Goya GF, Hoskins C, Wang L, Cuschieri A. 2012. Poly-l-lysine coated magnetic nanoparticles as intracellular actuators for neural guidance. International Journal of Nanomedicine.
  • Hoskins C, Cuschieri A, Wang L. 2012. The cytotoxicity of polycationic iron oxide nanoparticles: Common endpoint assays and alternative approaches for improved understanding of cellular response mechanism. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, Article 15. doi>
  • Hoskins C, Kong Thoo Lin P, Tetley L, Cheng WP. 2012. The use of nano polymeric self-assemblies based on novel amphiphilic polymers for oral hydrophobic drug delivery. Pharmaceutical Research, 59-79.
  • Gu J, Cheng WP, Hoskins C, Kong Thoo Lin P, Zhao L, Zhu L, Qu X, Yang Z. 2011. Nano self-assemblies based on cholate grafted poly-L-lysine enhanced the solubility of sterol-like drugs. Journal of Microencapsulation, vol. 8(28), 752-762.
  • Hoskins C, Kong Thoo Lin P, Tetley L, Cheng WP. 2011. Novel fluorescent amphiphilic poly(allylamine) and their supramolecular self-assemblies in aqueous media. Polymers for Advanced Technologies. doi>
  • Hoskins C, Ouaissi M, Lima SC, Cheng WP, Loureirio I, Mas E, Lombardo D, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Ouaissi A, Kong Thoo Lin P. 2010. In vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of a novel nano-sized formulation based on self-assembling polymers against pancreatic cancer. Pharmaceutical Research, 2694-2703. doi>
  • Calatayud MP, Riggio C, Raffa V, Sanz B, Torres TE, Ibarra MR, Hoskins C, Cuschieri A, Wang L, Goya GF. Magnetic Loading of Human Neuroblastoma Cells for magnetically assisted neural guidance.

Other

  • Hoskins C. 2010. A brief history of amphiphilic polymers.
  • Cheng WP, Kong Thoo Lin P, Hoskins C. Amphiphilic polymers witih aromatic pendants for drug delivery.
  • Andre P, Chen S, Hoskins C, Wang L, MacDonald MP. External Monitoring of in-situ Temperatures with Multimodal nanoColloids.
  • Hoskins C, Kong Thoo Lin P, Cheng WP. Fabrication of novel nanosized polymeric micelles for drug delivery.
  • Andre P, Chen S, Hoskins C, Wang L, MacDonald MP. FePt based Hybrid Colloid for nanoThermy Application.
  • Andre P, Chen S, Hoskins C, Wang L, MacDonald MP, Duce S, Brown S, Lee S, Melzer A, Cuschieri A. Hybrid nanoMaterials for Biocompatible Imaging and Sensor nanoProbes.
  • Chen S, Hoskins C, Wang L, MacDonald MP, Andre P. Magnetic nanoMaterials as Platforms for the Development of Biocompatible hybrid Temperature nanoProbes.
  • Barnett C, Gueorguieva M, Lees M, Darton R, McGarvey D, Hoskins C. Metallic Hybrid Nanoparticles For Image Guided Drug Delivery.
  • Gueorguieva M, McGarvey D, Lees M, Hoskins C. METALLIC HYBRID NANOPARTICLES FOR IMAGE GUIDED DRUG DELIVERY.
  • Roach P and Hoskins C. Remotely triggered scaffolds for controlled degradation in biomedicine.
  • Hoskins C, Kong Thoo Lin P, Cheng WP. The use of novel amphiphilic polymer to enhance aqueous solubility of hydrophobic drugs.
  • Hoskins C, Kong Thoo Lin P, Cheng WP. The use of novel amphiphilic polymer to enhance aqueous solubility of hydrophobic drugs.
  • Hoskins C, Kong Thoo Lin P, Cheng WP. The use of novel poly(allylamine) based amphiphilic polymers to enhance the aqueous solubility of hydrophobic drugs.