Dr Amr ElShaer

About

My research and academic career started by pursuing  an MSc in Pharmaceutics at Aston University in 2009. After finishing my masters degree with distinction, I was offered a PhD scholarship (under the supervision of Prof. Afzal Mohammed) in the area of Molecular Pharmaceutics. Afterwards, I joined Redx Pharmaceuticals as DMPK Scientist then joined Kingston University as a lecturer in 2013. At Kingston I run multidisciplinary projects to explore the synthesis and manufacture of smart polymers to sense the glucose concentrations in blood and release the drug according to the diabetic patient need. My team also evaluates the use of contact lenses to deliver ophthalmic drugs. Besides, I am interested in exploring the potential application of 3D printing in designing bespoke and personalized pharmaceutical formulations. I am a senior Fellow of the HEA and active reviewer of Pharmaceutics journals including; Nature Scientific reports, RSC Advances,  BioMed Research International. I acted as an external examiner for a number of UK and overseas PhD students. Currently I am acting as the Chair of the Pharmacy Fitness to Practise Committee, serve as MPharm admission tutor and sits on the University Board of Governors and Senate. In 2015, I got Santander Travel award. I also received the Staff Commercial Entrepreneur award in 2018.

Academic responsibilities

Associate Professor in Pharmaceutics

Qualifications

  • PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aston University
  • MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aston University
  • BSc in Pharmacy, Cairo University
  • PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Kingston University

Teaching and learning

Considering the importance of Community of Practices (CoPs) as a strategy to engage students and researchers to work collaboratively, I used this approach to facilitate knowledge and experience sharing between students in order to enable inclusivity. I was interested in exploring the role a CoP could have in enhancing the students learning experience. I started this piece of pedagogic research in 2015 by collaborating with colleagues from the Centre for Higher Education Research and Practice (CHERP), Kingston University London. The work helped me to design and implement new assessment activities (mini-project) within the drug design and medicine development module.

Feedback is viewed as a central feature of students' learning, not only during the time at the university but also beyond graduation. I am interested in assessing the students' preferences of feedback's modalities (Face to face, group feedback, electronic or written feedback) and qualities. Another project that I am involved in is the role of personal tutor scheme on the experience of university students.

I disseminated the outcomes of my pedagogic research at national conferences and pedagogic meetings across the UK. I also published my pedagogic research findings at international journals.

Qualifications and expertise

  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA; 2018)
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA; 2014)
  • Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA; 2012)

Undergraduate courses taught

Postgraduate courses taught

Research

During my academic career at Kingston University, I developed a multi-disciplinary research group made of 8 PhD students, 1 research visitor and 1 post doctorate researcher. My research group worked in multiple projects around the area of development of drug delivery system of anti-diabetic drugs. My research group is trying to develop innovative technologies to enhance the quality of life of diabetic patients. We explore the use of 3D printing to design bespoke tablets for co-morbid diabetic patients. We are also designing new sustained release orodispersible tablets that target paediatrics and geriatrics to achieve a better compliance. In addition, my group designed a new nanoparticulate system that can sense glucose concentrations in diabetic patients and release insulin according to the body needs. The novel drug delivery system can potentially enable diabetic patients to have a better control on their blood glucose level and will offer a better quality of life for people with diabetes. A third project is looking at developing insulin inhalers using spray freeze drying technology. We also explore the use of contact lenses as a vehicle to deliver drugs into the eye. In order to ensure that our technologies suit the patients' needs, we always seek patients' opinions / inputs to inform our technology designs. My multi-disciplinary projects enabled me to collaborate with colleagues from different disciplines within and outside Kingston University. Our fruitful collaboration is translated into a number of published high quality research outputs, and we  work together seeking funding through charities and research councils to expand the research projects. I acted as an external examiner for a number of UK and overseas PhD students.

Areas of specialism

  • Dosage form design
  • Orally disintegrating tablets (Orodispersibles)
  • 3D printing
  • Contact lenses for ocular drug delivery
  • Glucose sensitive delivery systems

Research student supervision

Main supervision

Other supervision

Publications

Number of items: 55.

Article

Mohammed, Abdullah, Kovacev, Nikolina, Elshaer, Amr, Melaibari, Ammar, Iqbal, Javed, Hassanin, Hany, Essa, Khamis and Memic, Adnan (2023) Preparation of polylactic acid/calcium peroxide composite filaments for fused deposition modelling. Polymers, 15(9), p. 2229. ISSN (online) 2073-4360

Mohammed, Abdullah, Saeed, Abdu, Elshaer, Amr, Melaibari, Ammar A., Memic, Adnan, Hassanin, Hany and Essa, Khamis (2023) Fabrication and characterization of oxygen-generating polylactic acid/calcium peroxide composite filaments for bone scaffolds. Pharmaceuticals, 16(4), p. 627. ISSN (online) 1424-8247

Dhiraj, Harpal S., Ishizuka, Fumi, Elshaer, Amr, Zetterlund, Per B. and Aldabbagh, Fawaz (2023) Lactate and glucose induced self‐assembly of hydrophobic boronic acid‐substituted polymers. Journal of Polymer Science, ISSN (online) 2642-4169 (Epub Ahead of Print)

Dhiraj, Harpal S., Ishizuka, Fumi, Saeed, Maria, Elshaer, Amr, Zetterlund, Per B. and Aldabbagh, Fawaz (2023) Lactate and glucose responsive boronic acid-substituted amphiphilic block copolymer nanoparticles of high aspect ratio. European Polymer Journal, p. 111819. ISSN (print) 0014-3057 (Epub Ahead of Print)

Dhiraj, Harpal S., Ishizuka, Fumi, Elshaer, Amr, Zetterlund, Per B. and Aldabbagh, Fawaz (2022) RAFT dispersion polymerization induced self-assembly (PISA) of boronic acid-substituted acrylamides. Polymer Chemistry, 13(25), pp. 3750-3755. ISSN (print) 1759-9954

Toukan, Nour, Kulnik, Stefan Tino, Lewko, Agnieszka and ElShaer, Amr (2022) Therapeutic applications of capsaicin in humans to target conditions of the respiratory system : a scoping review. Respiratory Medicine, 194, p. 106772. ISSN (print) 0954-6111

Babenko, Mai, Alany, Raid G, Calabrese, Gianpiero, Kaialy, Waseem and ElShaer, Amr (2022) Development of drug alone and carrier-based GLP-1 dry powder inhaler formulations. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 617, p. 121601. ISSN (print) 0378-5173 (Epub Ahead of Print)

Benardout, Miles, Le Gresley, Adam, ElShaer, Amr and Wren, Stephen P. (2022) Fructose malabsorption : causes, diagnosis and treatment. British Journal of Nutrition, 127(4), pp. 481-489. ISSN (print) 0007-1145

Calabrese, Gianpiero, Leadbitter, Debbie-Leigh M, Do Sacramento Menezes Da Trindade, Neusa, Jeyabalan, Ashveini, Dolton, Debbie and ElShaer, Amr (2022) Personal tutoring scheme : expectations, perceptions and factors affecting students' engagement. Frontiers in Education, 6, p. 727410. ISSN (online) 2504-284X

Sherif Amer, Sandra, Mamdouh, Wael, Nasr, Maha, ElShaer, Amr, Polycarpou, Elena, Abdel-Aziz, Rasha T.A. and Sammour, Omaima A. (2022) Quercetin loaded cosm-nutraceutical electrospun composite nanofibers for acne alleviation : preparation, characterization and experimental clinical appraisal. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 612, p. 121309. ISSN (print) 0378-5173

Ali Najmeddine, Ahmad, Saaed, Maria, Beadham, Ian G. and ElShaer, Amr (2021) Efficacy and safety of glucose sensors for delivery of insulin : a systematic review. PharmaNutrition, 18, p. 100280. ISSN (online) 2213-4344

Brambilla, Chiara R. M., Okafor-Muo, Ogochukwu Lilian, Hassanin, Hany and ElShaer, Amr (2021) 3DP printing of oral solid formulations : a systematic review. Pharmaceutics, 13(3), e358. ISSN (online) 1999-4923

Al-Hashimi, Nihad, Babenko, Mai, Saaed, Maria, Kargar, Negeen and ElShaer, Amr (2021) The impact of natural and synthetic polymers in formulating micro and nanoparticles for antidiabetic drugs. Current Drug Delivery, 18(3), pp. 271-288. ISSN (print) 1567-2018

Hassanin, Hany, Essa, Khamis, Elshaer, Amr, Imbaby, Mohamed, El-Mongy, Heba H. and El-Sayed, Tamer A. (2021) Micro-fabrication of ceramics : additive manufacturing and conventional technologies. Journal of Advanced Ceramics, 10(1), pp. 1-27. ISSN (print) 2227-8508

Langford, Thomas, Mohammed, Abdullah, Essa, Khamis, Elshaer, Amr and Hassanin, Hany (2020) 4D printing of origami structures for minimally invasive surgeries using functional scaffold. Applied Sciences, 11(1), e332. ISSN (online) 2076-3417

Okafor-Muo, Ogochukwu Lilian, Hassanin, Hany, Kayyali, Reem and ElShaer, Amr (2020) 3D printing of solid oral dosage forms : numerous challenges with unique opportunities. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 109(12), pp. 3535-3550. ISSN (print) 0022-3549

Patel, Rahul, Barker, James and Elshaer, Amr (2020) Pharmaceutical excipients and drug metabolism : a mini-review. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(21), p. 8224. ISSN (online) 1422-0067

Mohammed, Abdullah, Elshaer, Amr, Sareh, Pooya, Elsayed, Mahmoud and Hassanin, Hany (2020) Additive manufacturing technologies for drug delivery applications. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 580, p. 119245. ISSN (print) 0378-5173

ElShaer, Amr, Casanova, Diogo, Freestone, Nicholas S and Calabrese, Gianpiero (2020) Students' perceptions of the value of electronic feedback : does disciplinary background really matter? British Journal Of Educational Technology, 51(2), pp. 590-606. ISSN (print) 0007-1013

Amer, Sandra Sherif, Nasr, Maha, Abdel-Aziz, Rasha T.A., Moftah, Noha H., Elshaer, Amr, Polycarpou, Elena, Mamdouh, Wael and Sammour, Omaima (2020) Cosm-nutraceutical nanovesicles for acne treatment : physicochemical characterization and exploratory clinical experimentation. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 577, p. 119092. ISSN (print) 0378-5173

Babenko, Mai, Peron, Jean-Marie R., Kaialy, Waseem, Calabrese, Gianpiero, Alany, Raid G. and ElShaer, Amr (2019) [sup]1H NMR quantification of spray dried and spray freeze-dried saccharide carriers in dry powder inhaler formulations. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 564, pp. 318-328. ISSN (print) 0378-5173

Ghazal, Heba, Ahmadouk, Judy, Dhanji, Sumayya, El-bushra, Amani, Kayyali, Reem and Elshaer, Amr (2019) Patients' and prescribers' perception of contact lenses as a potential ocular drug delivery system. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 42(2), pp. 190-195. ISSN (print) 1367-0484

Al-Tamimi, Nouras, Slater, Natasha, Kayyali, Reem and Elshaer, Amr (2019) Perceptions by adult patients with Type 1 and 2 diabetes of current and advanced technologies of blood glucose monitoring : a prospective study. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 43(1), pp. 27-33. ISSN (print) 1499-2671

Al-Hashimi, Nihad, Begg, Nazish, Alany, Raid G., Hassanin, Hany and Elshaer, Amr (2018) Oral modified release multiple-unit particulate systems : compressed pellets, microparticles and nanoparticles. Pharmaceutics, 10(4), p. 176. ISSN (print) 1999-4923

Hassanin, Hany, Ahmed El-Sayed, Mahmoud, Elshaer, Amr, Essa, Khamis and Jiang, Kyle (2018) Microfabrication of net shape zirconia/alumina nanocomposite micro parts. Nanomaterials, 8(8), p. 593. ISSN (online) 2079-4991

Mosuela, Reynalyn, Mustafa, Shelan, Gould, Simon, Hassanin, Hany, Alany, Raid G and ElShaer, Amr (2018) Adherence of 'Pseudomonas aeruginosa' onto surfactant-laden contact lenses. Colloids and Surfaces B Biointerfaces, 163, pp. 91-99. ISSN (print) 0927-7765

Butt, Ummara, ElShaer, Amr, Snyder, Lori A. S., Al-Kinani, Ali A., Le Gresley, Adam and Alany, Raid G. (2018) Fatty acid based microemulsions to combat ophthalmia neonatorum caused by 'Neisseria gonorrhoeae' and 'Staphylococcus aureus'. Nanomaterials, 8(1), p. 51. ISSN (online) 2079-4991

ElShaer, Amr, Al-khattawi, Ali, Mohammed, Afzal R., Warzecha, Monika, Lamprou, Dimitrios A. and Hassanin, Hany (2018) Understanding the compaction behaviour of low-substituted HPC : macro, micro, and nano-metric evaluations. Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, 23(5), pp. 442-453. ISSN (print) 1083-7450

Khoder, Mouhamad, Abdelkader, Hamdy, ElShaer, Amr, Karam, Ayman, Najlah, Mohammad and Alany, Raid G. (2018) The use of albumin solid dispersion to enhance the solubility of unionisable drugs. Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, 23(7), pp. 732-738. ISSN (print) 1083-7450

Hassanin, Hany, Al-Kinani, Ali, ElShaer, Amr, Polycarpou, Elena, El-Sayed, Mahmoud Ahmed and Essa, Khamis (2017) Stainless steel with tailored porosity using canister-free hot isostatic pressing for improved osseointegration implants. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 5(47), pp. 9384-9394. ISSN (print) 2050-750X

Essa, Khamis, Modica, Francesco, Imbaby, Mohamed, El-Sayed, Mahmoud Ahmed, ElShaer, Amr, Jiang, Kyle and Hassanin, Hany (2017) Manufacturing of metallic micro components using hybrid soft lithography and micro-electrical discharge machining. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 91(1-4), pp. 445-452. ISSN (print) 0268-3768

Mosuela, Reynalyn, Thapa, Asim, Alany, Raid G and ElShaer, Amr (2017) Contact lenses : clinical evaluation, associated challenges and perspectives. Pharmacy & Pharmacology International Journal, 5(3), ISSN (online) 2379-6367

Elsayed, Ahmed, Elsayed, Eman, AL-Dadah, Raya, Mahmoud, Saad, ElShaer, Amr and Kaialy, Waseem (2017) Thermal energy storage using metal–organic framework materials. Applied Energy, 186(3), pp. 509-519. ISSN (print) 0306-2619

Khoder, Mouhamad, Abdelkader, Hamdy, ElShaer, Amr, Karam, Ayman, Najlah, Mohammad and Alany, Raid G. (2016) Efficient approach to enhance drug solubility by particle engineering of bovine serum albumin. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 515(1-2), pp. 740-748. ISSN (print) 0378-5173

Butt, Ummara, ElShaer, Amr, Snyder, Lori A. S., Chaidemenou, Athina and Alany, Raid G. (2016) Fatty acid microemulsion for the treatment of neonatal conjunctivitis : quantification, characterisation and evaluation of antimicrobial activity. Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 6(6), pp. 722-734. ISSN (print) 2190-393X

ElShaer, Amr, Calabrese, Gianpiero, Casanova, Diogo and Huet, Isabel (2016) Building a community of practice for engaging pharmacy students to learn in a collaborative research environment. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 8(5), pp. 698-707. ISSN (print) 1877-1297

ElShaer, Amr, Mustafa, Shelan, Kasar, Mohamad, Thapa, Sapana, Ghatora, Baljit and Alany, Raid G. (2016) Nanoparticle-laden contact lens for controlled ocular delivery of prednisolone : formulation optimization using statistical experimental design. Pharmaceutics, 8(2), E14. ISSN (online) 1999-4923

Elwerfalli, A.M., Ghanchi, Z., Rashid, F., Alany, R. and ElShaer, A. (2016) New generation of orally disintegrating tablets for sustained drug release: a propitious outlook. Current Drug Delivery, 12(6), pp. 652-667. ISSN (print) 1567-2018

Elwerfalli, Arwa Matoug, Al-Kinani, Ali, Alany, Raid and ElShaer, Amr (2015) Nano-engineering chitosan particles to sustain the release of promethazine from orodispersables. Carbohydrate Polymers, 131, pp. 447-461. ISSN (print) 0144-8617

ElShaer, Amr, Kaialy, Waseem, Akhtar, Noreen, Iyire, Affiong, Hussain, Tariq, Alany, Raid and Mohammed, Afzal R (2015) A methodological evaluation and predictive in silico investigation into the multi-functionality of arginine in directly compressed tablets. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 96, pp. 272-281. ISSN (print) 0939-6411

ElShaer, Amr, Hanson, Peter and Mohammed, Afzal R. (2014) A novel concentration dependent amino acid ion pair strategy to mediate drug permeation using indomethacin as a model insoluble drug. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 62, pp. 124-131. ISSN (print) 0928-0987

ElShaer, Amr, Ghatora, Baljit, Mustafa, Shelan and Alany, Raid G (2014) Contact lenses as drug reservoirs & delivery systems : the successes & challenges. Therapeutic Delivery, 5(10), pp. 1085-1100. ISSN (print) 2041-5990

ElShaer, Amr, Hanson, Peter and Mohammed, Afzal R (2013) A systematic and mechanistic evaluation of aspartic acid as filler for directly compressed tablets containing trimethoprim and trimethoprim aspartate. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 83(3), pp. 468-476. ISSN (print) 0939-6411

Khan, Sheraz, ElShaer, Amr, Rahman, Ayesha S., Hanson, Peter, Perrie, Yvonne and Mohammed, Afzal R. (2011) Systems biology approach to study permeability of paracetamol and its solid dispersion. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 417(1-2), pp. 272-279. ISSN (print) 0378-5173

Khan, Sheraz, ElShaer, Amr, Rahman, Ayesha R., Hanson, Peter, Perrie, Yvonne and Mohammed, Afzal R. (2011) Genomic evaluation during permeability of indomethacin and its solid dispersion. Journal of drug targeting, 19(8), pp. 615-623. ISSN (print) 1061-186X

ElShaer, Amr, Khan, Sheraz, Perumal, Dhaya, Hanson, Peter and Mohammed, Afzal R (2011) Use of amino acids as counterions improves the solubility of the BCS II model drug, indomethacin. Current Drug Delivery, 8(4), pp. 363-372. ISSN (print) 1567-2018

AlHusban, Farhan A, El-Shaer, Amr M, Jones, Rhys J and Mohammed, Afzal R (2010) Recent patents and trends in orally disintegrating tablets. Recent Patents on Drug Delivery & Formulation, 4(3), pp. 178-197. ISSN (print) 1872-2113

AlHusban, Farhan, Elshaer, Amr M., Kansara, Jiteen H., Smith, Alan M., Grover, Liam M., Perrie, Yvonne and Mohammed, Afzal R. (2010) Investigation of formulation and process of lyophilised orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) using novel amino acid combination. Pharmaceutics, 2(1), pp. 1-17. ISSN (online) 1999-4923

Book Section

Saeed, Maria and Elshaer, Amr (2019) Glucose-sensitive materials for delivery of antidiabetic drugs. In: Seyfoddin, Ali , Dezfooli, Seyedehsara Massomi and Greene, Carol Ann, (eds.) Engineering drug delivery systems. Duxford, U.K. : Woodhead Publishing. pp. 203-228. ISBN 9780081025482

Hassanin, Hany, ElShaer, Amr, Benhadj-Djilali, Redha, Modica, Francesco and Fassi, Irene (2018) Surface finish improvement of additive manufactured metal parts. In: Gupta, Kapil, (ed.) Micro and precision manufacturing. Cham, Switzerland : Springer. pp. 145-164. (Engineering Materials) ISSN (print) 1612-1317 ISBN 9783319688008

Hassanin, Hany, Imbaby, Mohamed, ElShaer, Amr, El-Mongy, Heba H. and El-Sayed, Tamer A. (2016) Manufacturing processes for ceramic and metal micro-components. In: Nalwa, H.S., (ed.) Encyclopedia of nanoscience and nanotechnology. American Scientific Publishers. pp. 185-212. 28 ISBN 1588832155

Conference or Workshop Item

Calabrese, Gianpiero, Elshaer, Amr and Olagunju, Julianne (2020) Employing videos in teaching laboratory skills and the associated student experience. In: Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference : Making Connections, Innovating and Sharing Pedagogy; 01 - 02 Jul 2020, Nottingham, U.K. (Held online). (Unpublished)

Calabrese, Gianpiero, Elshaer, Amr, Dolton, Debbie-Rose, Do Sacramento Menezes Da Trindade, Neusa and Jeyabalan, Ashveini (2020) Personal Tutor Scheme : students' expectations and perception. In: Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference : Making Connections, Innovating and Sharing Pedagogy; 01 - 02 Jul 2020, Nottingham, U.K. (Held online). (Unpublished)

Patel, Rahul, Elshaer, Amr and Barker, James (2019) Development and validation of LC-MS-MS method for high throughput screening and quantification in metabolsic and permeability assays. In: First Symposium on Synthesis & Drug Discovery; 01 Nov 2019, Kingston upon Thames, U.K.. (Unpublished)

Butt, U., Elshaer, A., Alany, R. and Snyder, L. (2014) Using fatty acids to combat blindness in newborns caused by gonorrhoea infection: analytical method development and validation. In: American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition; 02-06 Nov 2014, San Diego, U.S.. (Unpublished)

This list was generated on Wed Sep 13 07:09:26 2023 BST.

Leadership and management

 I am an authentic, resilient and inclusive leader who values the contribution of my colleagues and team members. As an adaptive leader, I invest in building up the technical and professional competence of my team to strike any challenges we might face. My futuristic vision together with my inspiration helps me to motivate and empower my diverse team to work hard and smart towards achieving our goals and vision. I relay on technology to facilitate my leadership approach.

Board of governors member (Vice-Chancellor nominee)

As part of my role I participate in determining the educational character and mission of Kingston University, oversee the financial viability of the University and contribute in making key policy decisions about the running of the University. I was also elected as a Senate member in July 2019.

Chair of the Pharmacy Fitness to Practise (FtP) Committee

My responsibility includes devising and updating the Pharmacy department FtP policy and procedures in collaboration with the committee members. I led the implementation of DBS and Health Checks for new Pharmacy students by liaising with our admission team, occupational health and pharmacy school office. I also oversee the FtP investigation hearings and train colleagues on conducting FtP investigations. I led the design of a new Pharmacy FtP webpage that is used as a platform to share our departmental FtP policy and procedures with the students and colleagues.

Admission Tutor for Pharmacy

I process UCAS applications for MPharm (B230) and Pharmacy foundation programmes (B231, F190) programmes. I work closely with the MPharm interview lead to organise and co-ordinate interviews for MPharm applicants. I also brief and train our MPharm colleagues on our recruitment process/strategy during the UCAS clearing cycle. I represents Kingston University at the Pharmacy Schools council admissions meetings to discuss strategies of recruiting pharmacy students.

Qualifications and expertise

  • Strategic Executive Development Programme for Diverse Leaders in Higher Education (StellarHE Programme, 2018)

University responsibilities

  • Board of Governors member (Vice-Chancellor nominee)
  • Elected Senate
  • Chair of the Pharmacy Fitness to Practise (FtP) Committee
  • Admission Tutor for Pharmacy

Public and CIVIC roles

  • Board of Governors member at St Albans Catholic School

Social media

LinkedIn