Associate Professor Fariba Dehghani

School of Chemical Engineering
The University of Sydney
Sydney, NSW, 2006
Room 453, J01
Telephone: +61 2 9351 4794
Facsimile: +61 2 9351 2854
Email:

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, 1997, The University of New South Wales
• M.Sc in Chemical Engineering, 1991, The University of Shiraz, Iran
• B.Sc in Chemical Engineering, 1989, The University of Shiraz, Iran

Honours and Awards

• John Brodie Medal from the Institute of Engineers, Australia for Achievement in Chemical Engineering (1999)
• A travelling award to attend the fourth international symposium of supercritical fluids in Sendai, Japan (1998)
• A DUX student during the B.Sc. Degree

Employment

2006-present Associate Professor
School of Chemical Engineering
University of New South Wales
& Eiffel Technologies Ltd.

2002-2005 Senior Lecturer & Consultant
School of Chemical Engineering
University of New South Wales
& Eiffel Technologies Ltd.

2000-2001 Senior Research Scientist
School of Chemical Engineering
University of New South Wales
& Eiffel Technologies Ltd.

1999-2000 Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship
School of Chemical Engineering
University of New South Wales
& Pharmaction Ltd.

1996-1998 Research Associate
School of Chemical Engineering
University of New South Wales

1993-1996 Research Assistant
School of Chemical Engineering
University of New South Wales

1991-1992 Lecturer
School of Chemical Engineering
University of Shiraz, Iran

Research Interests

• Biomaterials:
  We anticipate establishing efficient and innovative techniques with the objective to diminish organic solvent consumption to manufacture biomaterials used as polymer scaffolds for soft and hard tissue engineering applications. We aim to engineer surface nano features to promote cellular interaction as well as tissue proliferation, to fabricate nano composite materials (organic-organic, organic-inorganic) and enhance the mechanical and physical properties of implants as well as drug delivery devices. Ultimately the research will attempt to tailor biomaterial characteristics to enhance longevity and wearing properties of implants and to promote anchoring to the bone and other organs. In addition advanced non-destructive technologies has been developed with a potential for precision cleaning and sterilization of biomaterials.
• Nano/Micronisation:
  Production of nano and micro-particles with narrow particle size distribution have been of extreme interest in many field, particularly pharmaceutical industries. Smaller particles open an avenue for novel drug delivery, improve bioavailability, minimize the doses, side effect and ultimately promote patient compliances. Our research envision is to develop advanced novel benign techniques for formation of nano/micron sized particles in a controlled manner with high throughput while minimizing aggregation. Advanced techniques will be used to tailor particle characteristics such as polymorphic form.
• Drug Delivery:
  The research envisions to develop benign techniques for processing and formulation of pharmaceutical compounds to enhance drug bioavailability, efficacy and promote patient compliances. Advanced techniques such as dense gas processes will be utilized for engineering nano/micronisation. These include intimate mixing of active compounds as well as excipients, microencapsulation, impregnation and coating of various matrices at moderate temperatures. The feasibility of utilizing solvent free processes with potential intrinsic sterility will be assessed to manufacture various drug formulation and delivery systems such as hydrogels, liposome, stimuli responsive polymer systems for controlled drug delivery.
• Extraction/Fractionation
  Our research team has expertise in using advanced technologies for extraction and fractionation of high value compounds. As a result of focus that regulatory authorities are placing on environmental and health issues in production processes to minimise volatile organic solvent consumptions and waste disposal, industries are seeking alternative solvents and techniques for processes such as extraction and fractionation of various compounds, particularly food and pharmaceutical ingredients. Dense gases such as carbon dioxide have been widely used as a "green" environmentally benign solvent for various processes such as extraction and fractionation of high value compounds at moderate temperatures. The utilisation of dense gases allows extraction and subsequent precipitation of a desired compound while tailoring the solvation power by pressure and temperature and production of solvent free product in one stage.
• Biocatalysis:
  Our proposed research creates the conditions for developing clean and sustainable processes utilizing biocatalysis and microorganisms for synthesis of high value compounds at moderate temperatures. The primary research endeavor will be in the area of synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds such as chiral drugs and antibiotics, biomaterials, nano inorganic compounds, polymers such as polysaccharides.

Selected Publications

• Ellis JL, Tomasko DL, Dehghani F, "Novel dense gas CO2 technique for galactosidase imobilisation in polystyrene micro-channels and for bonding a cap on them while retaining enzymatic activity", Biomacromolecules (Web Release Date: 23 Feb 2008)
• Dehghani F, Annabi N, Valtchev P, Mithieux SM, Weiss AS, Kazarian SG, Tay FH, “Effect of Dense gas CO2 on the coacervation of ealstin”. Biomacromolecules, [2008] (in press, accepted 22/10/2007).
• Barrett AM, Dehghani F, Foster NR; “Increasing the dissolution rate of itraconazole processed by gas antisolvent techniques using polyethylene glycol as a carrier”, J. Pharm. Res., [2007] [12 December 07-1573-904X (Online)
• Tandya A, Dehghani F, Foster, NR; “Micronisation of cyclosporine using dense gas technique”, J. Supercritic. Fluids, 37(3), 272-8, [2006]
• Mammucari R, Dehghani F, Foster, NR; Dense gas processing of micron-sized drug formulation incorporating hydroxypropylated and methylated beta-cyclodextrin, Pharm. Res. 23(2), 429-37, [2006]
• Le, M.; Dehghani, F.; Poole-Warren L. A.; Foster, N. R.; “A Novel Method of Fabrication of Porous Chitosan for Biomedical or Pharmaceutical Applications”, Proceeding of International Symposium of Supercritical Fluids, Orlando,Florida, USA, May 1-4, [2005]
• Meure, L., Warwick, B., Dehghani, F. and Foster, N.R. “Increasing copper indomethacin solubility by co-precipitation with polyvinylpyrrolidone using the aerosol solvent extraction system”, Ind Eng. Chem. Res., 43(4), 1103-12, [2004]
• Spilimbergo, S., Dehghani, F., Bertucco, A. and Foster. N.R., “Inactivation of microorganisms by pulse electric field and high pressure CO2 at low temperature” Biotechnology & Bioengineering, 82(1), 118-25 [2003]

List of Patents

1. Foster, N.R., Regtop, H.L., Dehghani, F., Bustami, R.T., Chan, H-K., Synthesis of small particles. PCT Int. Appl. (2002), 43 pp CODEN: PIXXD2 WO 0245690 A1 20020613 AN2002:449482
2. Foster, Neil Russell; Regtop, Hubert Leonardus; Dehghani, Fariba. Preparation of small particles for pharmaceutical delivery. PCT Int. Appl. (2003), 37 pp. WO 2003047553 A1 20030612
3. Foster, Neil Russell; Regtop, Hubert Leonardus; Dehghani, Fariba. Preparation of small particles for pharmaceutical delivery. PCT Int. Appl. (2003) WO 2003047553
4. Foster, Neil Russell; Regtop, Hubert Leonardus; Dehghani, Fariba; Tandya, Andrian. Formulation of fine particles using liquefied or dense gases. PCT Int. Appl. (2003) WO 2003088951
5. Foster, Neil Russell; Regtop, Hubert Leonardus; Dehghani, Fariba; Bustami, Rana Taysir; Chan, Hak-Kim. Synthesis of small particles of biol. active agents, such as pH-sensitive proteins. PCT Int. Appl. (2002), WO 2002045690

Professional Contributions

• Reviewer of Journal of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
• Member of Institute of Chemical Engineering

Research Teams and Collaborations

Link to the website - Bioengineering Group

Teaching Areas

Analysis, modelling and control of biophysical processes, Conservation and transport processes, Chemical and biological system behaviour, Biochemical engineering