Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Faculty

Lawrence H. Block, Ph.D. Professor of Pharmaceutics 437 Mellon T 412.396.6362 block@duq.edu

Educational Background

Ph.D --University of Maryland
M.S. --University of Maryland
B.S. (Pharmacy)--University of Maryland

Lawrence H. Block is Professor of Pharmaceutics at the Mylan School of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Duquesne University. Dr. Block was educated at the University of Maryland where he earned his B.S. in Pharmacy, M.S., and Ph.D. degrees.

Dr. Block is a Fellow of both the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) and the American Pharmaceutical Association - Academy for Pharmaceutical Research and Science (APhA-APRS). He is a member of APhA-APRS, AAPS, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the Controlled Release Society, the New York Academy of Sciences, and the Society of Rheology.

Dr. Block is a Past Chair of both the Teachers of Pharmaceutics Section of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences Section of the APhA-APRS. He currently serves as a member of the United States Pharmacopeia's (USP) Council of Experts and is Chair, Excipient Monographs Expert Committee of the USP. A recipient in 2000 of the Duquesne University President's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and a Fellow of the APhA-APRS, Dr. Block has authored more than 100 publications and mentored more than 70 Pharm.D., M.S., and Ph.D. research students in the course of his professional career. His research interests embrace excipient technology, rheology, drug and cosmetic delivery systems, pharmaceutical engineering, Biopharmaceutics, and pharmacokinetics. He has served as a Visiting Scholar at Kobe Gakuin University in Kobe, Japan and Visiting Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Center for Pharmacogenetics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy.

Courses Taught

Graduate Courses:

• GPHSC 504 - Regulatory Aspects of Industrial Practice - 2 cr.
• GPHSC 505, 506 - Cosmetic Science and Technology - 2 cr., lecture, 1 cr., lab
• GPHSC 507 - Data Analysis and Modeling - 2 cr.
• GPHSC 510 - Advanced Pharmacokinetics I - 2 cr.
• GPHSC 615 - Advanced Pharmaceutics I - 3 cr.
• GPHSC 616 - Advanced Pharmaceutics II - 3 cr.

Professional Courses:

• PHCEU 430 - Biopharmaceutics - 3 cr.
• PHCEU 430L - Pharmaceutical Analysis/Biopharmaceutics Lab. - 1 cr.
• PHPRC 460 - Issues in Women's Health - 3 cr. [2 hr lecture on gender-related differences in biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics]
• PHINT 490 - Integrated Case Studies - 0.5 cr. [1 semester]

Current Research Foci

• Pharmaceutic aspects of chitin, chitosan, and chitinosans Scale-up of non-parenteral liquids and semi-solids Hydrophilic gels as drug delivery systems

Select Patents

• L. H. Block and S. S. Sabnis, "Methods of Creating a Unique Chitosan and Employing the Same to Form Complexes with Drugs, Delivery of the Same within a Patient and a Related Dosage Form," U.S. Patent 5,900,408 (May 4, 1999).
• L. H. Block and S. S. Sabnis, "Methods of Creating a Unique Chitosan and Employing the Same to Form Complexes with Drugs, Delivery of the Same within a Patient and a Related Dosage Form," U.S. Patent 5,830,883 (November 3, 1998).

Select Papers

• A. Hashash, D. L. Kirkpatrick, J. S. Lazo, and L. H. Block, "Solubility, ionization, and partitioning behavior of unsymmetrical disulfide compounds: Alkyl 2-imidazolyl disulfides," J. Pharm. Sci. 91: 1686-1692 (2002)
• A. Hashash, D. L. Kirkpatrick, M. J. Egorin, L. H. Block, and J. S. Lazo, "Reversed- and norma-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of the novel anti-tumor agent: 1-methylpropyl-2-imidazolyl disulfide," J. Chromaatog. B. 768: 239-246 (2002)
• S. Ramanathan and L. H. Block, "The use of chitosan gels as matrices for electrically-modulated drug delivery," J. Contr. Rel. 70: 109-123 (2001).
• L. H. Block, "Process scale-up for pharmaceutical liquids and semisolids," Am. Pharm. Rev. 3 (4): 12, 14-15 (2000).
• H. Tokumitsu, H. Ichikawa, T. K. Saha, Y. Fukumori, and L. H. Block, "Design and preparation of gadolinium-loaded chitosan particles for cancer neutron capture therapy,"
• S. Sabnis and L. H. Block, "Chitosan as an Enabling Excipient for Drug Delivery Systems. I. Molecular Modifications," Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 27: 181-186 (2000).
• K. Hojo, M. Maeda, Y. Mu, H. Kamada, Y. Tsutsumi, Y. Nishiyama, T. Yoshikawa, K. Kurita, L. H. Block, T. Mayumi, and K. Kawasaki, "Facile Synthesis of a Chitosan Hybrid of a Laminin-related Peptide and Its Antimetastatic Effect in Mice," J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 52: 67-73 (2000).
• B. Li, S. Li, Y. Tan, D. B. Stolz, S. C. Watkins, L. H. Block, and L. Huang, "Lyophilization of Cationic Lipid-Protamine-DNA (LPD) Complexes," J. Pharm. Sci. 89: 355-364 (2000). P. R. Rege and L. H. Block, "Chitinosan Processing: Influence of Process Parameters During Acidic and Alkaline Hydrolysis and Effect of the Processing Sequence on the Resultant Chitinosan's Properties." Carbohydrate Research 321: 235-245 (1999).
• K. Hojo, M. Maeda, Y. Mu, H. Kamada, Y. Tsutsumi, Y. Nishiyama, T. Yoshikawa, K. Kurita, L. H. Block, T. Mayumi, and K. Kawasaki, "Preparation of a Chitosan Hybrid of an Antimetastatic Laminin-related Peptide," Pharm. Pharmacol. Commun. 5: 277-280 (1999).
• P. R. Rege, D. J. Shukla, and L. H. Block, "Chitinosans as tableting excipients for modified release delivery systems" Int. J. Pharm. 181: 49-60 (1999).
• H. Tokumitsu, H. Ichikawa, Y. Fukumori, and L. H. Block, "Preparation of Gadopentetic Acid-Loaded Chitosan Microparticles for Gadolinium Neutron-Capture Therapy of Cancer by a Novel Emulsion-Droplet Coalescence Technique," Chem. Pharm. Bull. 47: 838-842 (1999).
• Y. Fukumori, H. Tamura, K. Jono, M. Miyamoto, H. Tokumitsu, H. Ichikawa, and L. H. Block, "Dry grinding of chitosan powder by a planetary ball mill" Adv. Powder Technol. 9 (4): 281-292 (1998).
• S. Sabnis, P. Rege, and L. H. Block, Use of Chitosan in Compressed Tablets of Diclofenac Sodium: Inhibition of Drug Release in an Acidic Environment," Pharm. Develop. Technol. 2: 243-255 (1997).
• S. Sabnis and L. H. Block, "Improved Infrared Spectroscopic Method of Analysis of Degree of N-Deacetylation of Chitosan," Polymer Bull. 39: 67-71 (1997).

Select Monographs

• L. H. Block, "Non Parenteral Liquids & Semisolids," Chapter 3, in M. Levin, ed., Process Scale-Up in the Pharmaceutical Industry, Marcel Dekker, New York, 2001, pp. 57-94.
• L. H. Block and A.B.C. Yu, "Pharmaceutical Principles and Drug Dosage Forms," Chapter 3 in Comprehensive Pharmacy Review, 4th ed., L. Shargel, A.H. Mutnick, P.F. Souney, L.N. Swanson, eds., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 2001, pp. 28-77.
• L. H. Block and C.C. Collins, "Biopharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Systems," Chapter 4 in Comprehensive Pharmacy Review, 4th ed., L. Shargel, A.H. Mutnick, P.F. Souney, L.N. Swanson, eds., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 2001, pp. 78-91.
• L. H. Block, "Medicated Topicals," Chapter 44 in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20th ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore & Philadelphia, 2000, pp. 836-857.
• L. H. Block, "Scale-Up of Disperse Systems: Theoretical and Practical Aspects," in Pharamceutical Dosage Forms: Disperse Systems, 2nd ed., Chapter 9 in vol. 3, H.A. Lieberman, M. M. Rieger and G. S. Banker, eds., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1998, pp. 363-394.

Select Presentations

• AAPS, Indianapolis, IN, October 2000 [abstract: AAPS PharmSci. 2 (4), Suppl., 2000]: "Conductometric Evaluation of Chitosan-Carrageenan Complexes in
• AAPS, Indianapolis, IN, October 2000 [abstract: AAPS PharmSci. 2 (4), Suppl., 2000]: "Controlled Drug Delivery from Tablets Using a Chitosan-Carrageenan Matrix"
• AAPS, Indianapolis, IN, October 2000 [abstract: AAPS PharmSci. 2 (4), Suppl., 2000]: "Molecular Weight Characterization of Chitosans and Carrageenans Using SEC with Triple Detector"
• AAPS, Indianapolis, IN, October 2000 [abstract: AAPS PharmSci. 2 (4), Suppl., 2000]: "Preparation of Chitosan Microparticles by a Planetary Mill for Their Possible Applications as Drug Carriers"
• AAPS, New Orleans, LA, November 1999 [abstract: AAPS PharmSci. 1 (4), Suppl., 1999]: "Spray Dried Chitosans as Excipients for Use in Drug Delivery Systems"
• AAPS, New Orleans, LA, November 1999 [abstract: AAPS PharmSci. 1 (4), Suppl., 1999]: "Micromeritic Characterization of Chitosans"
• AAPS, New Orleans, LA, November 1999 [abstract: AAPS PharmSci.1 (4), Suppl., 1999]: "Determination of the Degree of N-Deacetylation of Chitosan following Batch or Continuous Processing: Development of an Improved Infrared Method"
• AAPS, San Francisco, CA , November 1998 [abstract: PharmSci. 1 (1), 1998]: "Use of Electrolytes in Directly Compressed Naproxen Sodium-Chitosan Tablets: Controlled In Vitro Release Under Simulated Gastrointestinal Conditions"
• AAPS, San Francisco, CA , November 1998 [abstract: PharmSci. 1 (1), 1998]: "Chitosan Processing: Study of the Kinetics of Chitosan Depolymerization in Acidic Solution"
• AAPS, San Francisco, CA , November 1998 [abstract: PharmSci. 1 (1), 1998]: "A Simple, Sensitive GC/MS Method for the Quantitation of d-alpha-Tocopherol Quinone"
• Controlled Release Society, 25th International Symposium on Controlled Release of Bioactive Materials, Las Vegas, Nevada, June, 1998: "Chitinosans as Tableting Excipients for Modified Release Delivery Systems"
• AAPS, Boston, MA, November 1997: "Effect of the Deacetylation-Depolymerization Sequence on the Manufacture of Chitosans"
• AAPS, Boston, MA, November 1997: "The Use of Cationic Hydrogels as Matrices for Electrically Modulated Drug Delivery. II"
• Controlled Release Society, 25th International Symposium on Controlled Release of Bioactive Materials, Las Vegas, NV, June, 1998: "Electrically-induced syneresis in anionic gel systems and its contribution to anionic drug delivery"
• American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, Boston, MA, November 1997 [abstract: Pharm. Res. 14: S-387 (1997)]: "Effect of the Deacetylation-Depolymerization Sequence on the Manufacture of Chitosans"
• American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, Boston, MA, November 1997 [abstract: Pharm. Res. 14: S-310 (1997)]: "The Use of Cationic Hydrogels as Matrices for Electrically
• Controlled Release Society, 24th International Symposium on Controlled Release of Bioactive Materials, Stockholm, Sweden, June 1997: "The Use of Cationic Hydrogels as Matrices for Electrically Modulated Drug Delivery"