Prof. M. Kuentz
University of Applied Sciences & Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Institute of Pharma Technology, Switzerland

Position
Professor of pharmaceutical technology at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland

Background
Martin Kuentz is since 2007 a professor of pharmaceutical technology at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. He leads a research group in the area of Quality by Design of oral dosage forms with a particular focus on oral lipid-based formulations. Several projects in the research group target a better understanding of oral formulation performance. Particular interests are about gaining insights into the formulation microstructure and to study drug release, which involves in vitro digestion in case of lipid-based systems. Different non-invasive analytical tools are used such as, for example, Raman spectroscopy, UV imaging, ultrasound analysis, and diffusing wave spectroscopy. Pharmaceutical systems are further studied by different surface analytics, e.g. inverse gas chromatography and different imaging techniques. The research group was in several projects making use of mathematical modelling to gain a better understanding of dosage form performance, which should ultimately provide guidance to pharmaceutical scientists.

Prior to his academic assignment, Dr. Kuentz spent almost seven years in pharmaceutical research at F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. in Basel. He was a senior scientist and departmental coordinator of assigned galenical development projects. Prof. Kuentz had among different functions the role of a global contact person in the area of lipid-based drug delivery systems. Martin Kuentz earned his Ph.D. in 1999 in the group of Prof. Leuenberger at the University of Basel (Switzerland), where he also graduated earlier as a pharmacist in 1995.

Prof. Kuentz has published more than 70 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and has given numerous scientific presentations at international congresses. Prof. Kuentz won national and international prizes for his research activities and he is a member of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), the “Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Pharmazeutischen Verfahrenstechnik” (APV), the Swiss Society of Industrial Pharmacists (GSIA), and of Catedra Iberoamericana-Suiza de Desarrollo de Medicamentos (CISDEM).

Role in PEARRL
Main Supervisor ESR 2 and ESR 5, Co-Supervisor ESR 1, ESR 3, ESR 4 and ESR 6

Key Publications
  • Simon,L, Pataki, H., Marosi, G., Meemken, F., Hungerbühler, K., Baiker, A., Tummala,S., Glennon, B., Kuentz, M., et al., 2015. Assessment of Recent Process Analytical Technology (PAT) Trends: A Multiauthor Review Org. Process Res., 19, 3−62.
  • Kendall de Kruif, Varum, F, Bravo, R., Kuentz, M., 2015. A systematic study on manufacturing of prilled microgels into lipids for oral protein delivery. J. Pharm. Sci. 115(10), 20-30.
  • Adler, C., Schönenberger, M., Teleki, A., Leuenberger, B., Kuentz, M., 2015. Flow-through cross-polarized imaging as a new tool to overcome the analytical sensitivity challenges of a low-dose crystalline compound in a lipid matrix. J. Pharm. Biomed. Analysis, 115(10), 20-30.
  • Gautschi, N., Van Hoogevest, P., Kuentz, M., 2015. Amorphous drug dispersions with mono- and diacyl lecithin: On molecular categorization of their feasibility and UV dissolution imaging. Int. J. Pharm. 491, (1-2), 218-230.
  • Alexandra H. E., Machado, Tohru, Kokubo, Gabriela Dujovny, Brian Jones, Claudio Scialdone; Roberto Bravo, Martin Kuentz, 2015. Towards improved capsule compatibility with lipid-based formulations by monitoring aqueous channel formation. Eur. J. Pharm. Sci. (submitted).
  • Elder, D.,P., Kuentz, M., Holm, R., 2015. Pharmaceutical excipients - regulatory and biopharmaceutical considerations. Eur. J. Pharm. Sci. (online).
  • Kichmeyer,, W., Wyttenbach, N., Alsenz, J., Kuentz, M., 2015. Influence of excipients on solvent-mediated hydrate formation of piroxicam studied by dynamic imaging and fractal analysis. Cryst. Growth & Design, 15(10), 5002–5010.
  • DeKruif, J.K., Lederberger, G., Garofalo, C., Fasler Kan, E., Kuentz, M., 2016. On prilled Nanotubes-in-Microgel Oral Systems for protein delivery. Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm. 101, 90-102.
  • Kuentz, M., Holm R., Elder, D.P., 2015. Methodology of oral formulation selection in the pharmaceutical industry. Eur. J. Pharm. Sci. (online).
  • Wyttenbach, N., Kirchmeyer, W., Alsenz, J., Kuentz, M., 2016. Theoretical considerations of the Prigogine-Defay ratio in regard to the glass-forming ability of drugs from undercooled melts. Mol. Pharm. 13(1), 241-250.
  • Adler, C., Schönenberger, M., Teleki, A., Kuentz, M. 2016. Molecularly designed lipid microdomains for solid dispersions using a polymer/inorganic carrier matrix produced by hot-melt extrusion. Int. J. Pharm. 499, 90-100.
  • Stillhart, C., Kuentz, M., 2016. “Trends in the assessment of drug supersaturation and precipitation using lipid-based delivery systems”. J. Pharm. Sci. (online).
  • Villiger, A., Stillhart, C., Parrot, N., Kuentz, M., 2016. Using Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling and in vitro dissolution testing to gain insights into the effect of formulation and physiological factors on oral absorption in a paediatric population. AAPS J. (in press).