I am extremely fortunate and thankful to have spent six weeks of the summer holidays undertaking a research placement, as it has been one of my most valuable experiences. For my project, I synthesised pH-sensitive fluorescent nanogels and tested their physiochemical properties. These nanogels are now ready to be incorporated into dosage formulations to ascertain the effect of various conditions and factors on their function; knowledge on the effect of individual formulation excipients on the pH of the API or its carrier, for example, provides essential information during the research and development stages of drug synthesis. Below is a picture of the nanogels being synthesised in a round-bottomed flask.

I thoroughly enjoyed applying my chemistry and pharmaceutical knowledge to plan and conduct experiments. I discovered that experiments are not always successful, but this provides opportunities to use and develop problem-solving skills to innovate new ideas. I got the opportunity to use several analytical instruments including the Spectrofluorometer, DLS, NanoSight, NMR and IR spectroscopy, which I previously only had textbook knowledge of. In addition to this, I learnt the importance of using my senses of sight, smell and hearing to gauge the success of experiments. This picture shows nanogel samples to be analysed by NMR – it’s not difficult to guess which one contains fluorescein!

Through discovering more about the chemical properties of various compounds such as fluorescein and ethidium bromide, I have gained an appreciation of their complexity that makes research so exciting. Each day stimulated my mind in new ways and encouraged me to continually develop my knowledge, which is an aspect rarely found in other professions. The picture below shows the effect of pH on fluorescein’s fluorescence intensity in the presence of 1% polyethyleneimine.

The placement has had a significant impact on my academic and career outlook. Having now spent a considerable amount of time in labs, I am better equipped and feel much more confident about undertaking my fourth year research project. I begun the placement with a desire to become a hospital pharmacist, but I was privileged to be supervised by Dr Michael Cook, an experienced post-doctoral researcher and lecturer who greatly inspired me to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry. I have recently accepted an offer to undertake a split pre-registration training year with GlaxoSmithKline and Barts & The London hospital; this will give me the opportunity to be trained in both the industrial and hospital sectors after I graduate from my pharmacy degree – the best of both worlds!

Eunyoung Lee, Reading School of Pharmacy