Clyde M. Ofner III, PhD
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Clyde M. Ofner III, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics
Program Director, Graduate Program in Pharmaceutics
Email: c.ofner@usp.edu
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Education:
Ph.D., Pharmaceutics, Temple University
B.S., Pharmacy, Temple University
Expertise:
Crosslinking in gelatin used in capsule shells and subsequent partial release of drug contents, gelatin swelling, gelatin hydrogels as biodegradable implants to deliver small and macromolecular drugs, anticancer research, degradation processes and models of gelatin microspheres.
Background:
Dr. Ofner has been an associate professor of pharmaceutics in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia since 1987. His responsibilities include teaching courses in pharmacy, pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmaceutical technology, as well as in the pharmaceutics graduate program.
He has directed the research of about two dozen undergraduate and graduate students which has involved gelatin, a natural product, and includes anticancer-gelatin conjugates for soluble and microsphere delivery, and release of macromolecules from implantable and biodegradable gelatin hydrogels. One area of current research focuses on exploring enhanced cellular uptake of anticancer-gelatin conjugates to increase drug effectiveness and reduce toxic side effects of a drug. He has about 50 publications of research abstracts, research articles and book chapters. He received the FDA Commissioner’s Special Citation for his work on the Gelatin Capsule Working Group of the FDA (1995-98). He was president of the USP chapter of Sigma Xi (The Scientific Research Society) and has been an officer of the Philadelphia Pharmaceutical Forum, a discussion group of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists since 1989.
Dr. Ofner is a licensed pharmacist in the state of Pennsylvania, and is also a member of the honor society of pharmacy (Rho Chi), the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the American Pharmaceutical Association.
Research Interests
Research in my group is focused on macromolecular drug delivery for tumor therapy. There are several potential advantages that a macromolecular conjugate of an anticancer drug may have compared to the free drug. These include higher maximum tolerated doses, an enhanced local effect, and reduced side effect toxicities. We are particularly interested in the role of molecular weight and other properties using a biodegradable carrier at the cellular and tumor level. Current research projects are aimed at (1) characterizing the ability of a high molecular weight biodegradable carrier to extend circulation time of a conjugate (gelatin/doxorubicin, G-DOX) followed by enhanced tumor accumulation and intracellular uptake, (2) determining intracellular mechanistic differences between the free drug and G-DOX, and (3) design and evaluation of high dose methotrexate effects using soluble gelatin-methotrexate conjugates and microspheres.
Publications and Presentations
B. Rhodes, C.M. Ofner III, Preliminary Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Gelatin-doxorubicin Conjugate with Acid Sensitive Release, The AAPS Journal, 9(S2): Abstract T3233 (2007).
R. Desai, N. Patel, C.S. Chen, C.M. Ofner III, Cytostatic and Cytocidal Effects of a Gelatin-Methothrexate Conjugate and Free Methotraxate on HL60 Leukemia Cells, The AAPS Journal, 9(S2): Abstract T3366 (2007).
C.M. Ofner III, Soluble Macromolecular Conjugates for Passive Tumor Targeting, Philadelphia Pharmaceutical Forum, North Wales, PA, January 11, 2007
K. Pica, R. Tchao, and C.M. Ofner III, Gelatin-Methotrexate conjugate Microspheres As a Potential Drug Delivery System, J. Pharm. Sci., 95(9): 1896-1908 (2006).
C.M. Ofner III, K. Pica, B.J. Bowman, C.S Chen, Growth Inhibition, Degradation, and Methotrexate Release Studies of Gelatin/Methotrexate Conjugates, Int.J.Pharm., 308: 90-99 (2006)
J.W. Mwangi and CM Ofner III, Crosslinked Gelatin Matrices: Release of a Random Coil Macromolecular Solute, Int. J. Pharm. 278:319-327 (2004)
C.M. Ofner III, Y.E. Zhang, V.C. Jobeck, B.J. Bowman, Crosslinking Studies in Gelatin Capsules Treated with Formaldehyde and in Capsules Exposed to Elevated Temperature and Humidity, J. Pharm. Sci., 90(1):79-87 (2001).
B.J. Bowman and C.M. Ofner III, Characterization and In Vitro Methotrexate Release from Methotrexate/Gelatin Conjugates of Opposite Conjugate Bond Polarities, Pharm. Res., 17(10):1309-1315 (2000).