Dr. Ajay K. Banga

Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Co-Director of the Center for Drug Delivery Research

T.P. Haines Endowed Chair in Transdermal Delivery Systems

Dr. Ajay BangaEducation

Research Background and Interests

Dr. Banga’s training has focused on formulation development and drug delivery systems. His research interests are to investigate traditional and non-traditional approaches for topical and transdermal delivery of pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals, especially for water-soluble small conventional molecules and macromolecules. His laboratory has received over 80 funded projects from the industry in skin delivery systems.

Courses

  • PHA 338 Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry
  • PHA 742 Foundations in Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • PHA 799 Thesis Research
  • PHA 899 Doctoral Research

Teaching Philosophy

I believe my responsibility as a teacher is to generate a love for learning in the students that lasts beyond the classroom and beyond pharmacy school. I believe that the greatest and most rewarding contribution I can make to the students is to “generate enthusiasm” for the subject and make them understand the “concepts” by using plenty of examples of how the subject material relates to their future role as a pharmacist or their day-to-day life. Whenever possible, I also relate the material to what they might have learned in other science and pharmacy classes to all come together instead of being compartmentalized into course numbers so and so. It is important for us to keep our skills up-to-date in our respective subject areas and plan the course in such a way that the student is not only responsible but also accountable for learning, with emphasis on concepts rather than detailed information on every little topic. I strive to always treat my students with respect and also learn new things from them in a two-way exchange.

News

Two Pharmacy Researchers in the Top 2% of Cited ScientistsThe Den, 11/22/21

College of Pharmacy Receives NIH Grant to Develop Topical Treatments to Counteract Effects of Arsenicals-based Chemical Warfare – The Den, 9/17/21

Selected Publications

  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar
  • P. Bakshi, Y. Jiang, T. Nakata, J. Akaki, N. Matsuoka, and A. Banga, Formulation development and characterization of nanoemulsion-based formulation for topical delivery of heparinoid, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 107 (11) (2018) 2883-2890.
  • H. Nguyen and A. Banga, Delivery of methotrexate and characterization of skin treated by fabricated PLGA microneedles and fractional ablative laser, Pharmaceutical Research, 35 (2018) 68.
  • H. Nguyen, B. Bozorg, Y. Kim, A. Wieber, G. Birk, D. Lubda, and A. Banga, Poly (vinyl alcohol) microneedles: fabrication, characterization, and application for transdermal drug delivery of doxorubicin, European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 129 (2018) 88-103.
  • Y. Song, K. Hemmady, A. Puri, and A. Banga, Transdermal delivery of human growth hormone via laser-generated micropores, Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 8 (2) (2018) 450-460.
  • A.Sivaraman, S.S. Ganti, H.X. Nguyen, G. Birk, A. Weiber, D. Lubda, and A. Banga, Development and evaluation of a polyvinyl alcohol based topical gel, Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 39 (2017) 210-216.
  • A.Puri, H. Nguyen, and A.K. Banga, Microneedle-mediated intradermal delivery of epigallocatechin-3-gallate, International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 38 (5) (2016) 512-523.
  • Y. Bai, V.Sachdeva, H.Kim, P.M. Friden and A.K. Banga, Transdermal delivery of proteins using a combination of iontophoresis and microporation, Therapeutic Delivery, 5(5) (2014) 525-536.
  • G. Bhatia, Y. Zhou, and A. Banga, Adapalene microemulsion for transfollicular drug delivery, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 102 (8) (2013) 2622-2631.
  • M. Abla and A.K. Banga, Quantification of skin penetration of antioxidants of varying lipophilicity, International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 35 (1) (2013) 19-26.
  • P. Jain and A. Banga, Induction and inhibition of crystallization in drug-in-adhesive-type transdermal patches, Pharmaceutical Research, 30(2) (2013) 562-571.
  • V. Sachdeva, Y. Zhou, and A. Banga, In vivo transdermal delivery of leuprolide using microneedles and iontophoresis, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 14 (2) (2013) 180-193.
  • N. Singh and A. Banga, Controlled delivery of ropinirole hydrochloride through skin using modulated iontophoresis and microneedles, Journal of Drug Targeting, 21 (4) (2013) 354-366.
  • V. Sachdeva, Y. Bai, A. Kydonieus, and A. Banga, Formulation and optimization of desogestrel transdermal contraceptive patch using crystallization studies, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 441 (2013) 9-18.
  • M. Abla and A.K. Banga, Quantification of skin penetration of antioxidants of varying lipophilicity, International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 35 (1) (2013) 19-26.
  • V. Sachdeva, Y. Zhou, and A. Banga, In vivo transdermal delivery of leuprolide using microneedles and iontophoresis, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 14 (2) (2013) 180-193.
  • P. Jain, S. Sonti, J. Garruto, R. Mehta, and A. Banga, Formulation optimization, skin irritation, and efficacy characterization of a novel skin lightening agent, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 11(2) (2012) 101-10.
  • S. Siddoju, V. Sachdeva, P. Friden, Y.Yu, and A. Banga, Acyclovir skin depot characterization following in vivo iontophoretic delivery. Skin Research and Technology, 17(2) (2011) 234-244.
  • H. Kalluri and A. Banga, Formation and closure of microchannels in skin following microporation, Pharmaceutical Research, 28(1) (2011) 82-94.

Contact Dr. Ajay K. Banga


banga_ak@mercer.edu
(678) 547-6243