
Overview
Background
Harendra's research interests are in the area of synthetic pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutics as applied to nano-carriers, and advanced non-viral drug/gene delivery system design, synthesis and evaluation. His team at PACE have been instrumental in developing highly versatile micro- & nanobubble formulations, which when used in-conjuction with ultrasound, pave the way for improved rates of 'on-demand' drug delivery and release in target tissue. Harendra also has a keen interest in developing bioresponsive drug/gene delivery systems with current engagement with pharma partners, globally, to commercialise his platforms. Separately, Dr Parekh has been developing a program to reformulate TCMs, in collaboration with researchers at a leading Chinese research institute; the outcomes of this work was aired across Asia in a BBC World News story, and showcased (TV & radio) by the Australian Academy of Science, National Touring Series.
BScPharm(Hon I), PhD (Nottingham)
Harendra completed his BSc in pharmacy (UK) and registered as a Pharmacist in 1998. He went onto undertake his PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Nottingham in the same year. Under the supervision of Dr B. Kellam and Dr. S. R. Chhabra he investigated the development of novel linkers for solid phase peptide and glycopeptide synthesis. Harendra was awarded his PhD in 2002, and after a short time working in community pharmacy in the UK relocated to Australia and took up a position as research officer in the School of Chemistry at UQ. He continues to be a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of GB and is also registered with the AHPRA (pharmacist) in QLD.
During his post-doctoral tenure he explored the area of non-viral gene delivery via chemical synthesis of novel dendrimeric systems. Emphasis was on the treatment of age-related macular degeneration and in 2004 he received Uniquest's Trailblazer Prize for commercialisation potential. In May 2005 Dr Parekh was appointed Lecturer within the School of Pharmacy, and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2011. He also holds adjunct positions at Manipal University (India), and the National University of Singapore's Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (NNI).
Availability
- Dr Harendra Parekh is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Portsmouth
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Nottingham
Research impacts
Dr Parekh is engaged directly with leading clinicians/physicians across the fields of ophthalomology, ENT, cancer and endocrinology. In addition Dr Parekh engages with pharma industry partners, globally, to translate his platforms from the bench-to-bedside, through a highly multi-disciplinary team approach.
Dr Parekh's Nanobubble platform has received media attention, having been aired across Australia.
Works
Search Professor Harendra Parekh’s works on UQ eSpace
2015
Journal Article
Type 2 diabetes mellitus: limitations of conventional therapies and intervention with nucleic acid-based therapeutics
Kokil, Ganesh R., Veedu, Rakesh N., Ramm, Grant A., Prins, Johannes B. and Parekh, Harendra S. (2015). Type 2 diabetes mellitus: limitations of conventional therapies and intervention with nucleic acid-based therapeutics. Chemical Reviews, 115 (11), 4719-4743. doi: 10.1021/cr5002832
2015
Book Chapter
Solubilization of poorly-soluble drugs: cyclodextrin-based formulations
Thakur, Sachin S., Parekh, Harendra S., Schwable, Carl H., Gan, Yong and Ouyang, Defang (2015). Solubilization of poorly-soluble drugs: cyclodextrin-based formulations. Computational pharmaceutics: application of molecular modeling in drug delivery. (pp. 31-51) edited by Defang Ouyang and Sean C. Smith. Chichester, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons.
2015
Journal Article
Are caveolae a cellular entry route for non-viral therapeutic delivery systems?
Rewatkar, Prarthana V., Parton, Robert G., Parekh, Harendra S. and Parat, Marie-Odile (2015). Are caveolae a cellular entry route for non-viral therapeutic delivery systems?. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 91, 92-108. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2015.01.003
2015
Journal Article
Particle size- and number-dependent delivery to cells by layered double hydroxide nanoparticles
Dong, Haiyan, Parekh, Harendra S. and Xu, Zhi Ping (2015). Particle size- and number-dependent delivery to cells by layered double hydroxide nanoparticles. Journal of Colloid And Interface Science, 437 (1), 10-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2014.09.010
2014
Journal Article
Enhanced cellular delivery and biocompatibility of a small layered double hydroxide–liposome composite system
Dong, Haiyan, Parekh, Harendra S. and Xu, Zhi Ping (2014). Enhanced cellular delivery and biocompatibility of a small layered double hydroxide–liposome composite system. Pharmaceutics, 6 (4), 584-598. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics6040584
2014
Journal Article
Biliary excretion of glycyrrhetinic acid: glucuronide-conjugate determination following a pharmacokinetic study of rat bile
Lu, Yang, Jing, Jing, Ren, Weichao, Zhu, Jing, Qiu, Zhixia, Li, Ning, Li, Xiaonan, Zhao, Di, Parekh, Harendra S. and Chen, Xijing (2014). Biliary excretion of glycyrrhetinic acid: glucuronide-conjugate determination following a pharmacokinetic study of rat bile. Phytotherapy Research, 28 (12), 1887-1889. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5170
2014
Journal Article
Intravitreal drug delivery in retinal disease: are we out of our depth?
Thakur, Sachin S., Barnett, Nigel L., Donaldson, Mark J. and Parekh, Harendra S. (2014). Intravitreal drug delivery in retinal disease: are we out of our depth?. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 11 (10), 1575-1590. doi: 10.1517/17425247.2014.927864
2014
Journal Article
Engineering small MgAl-layered double hydroxide nanoparticles for enhanced gene delivery
Dong, Haiyan, Chen, Min, Rahman, Shafiur, Parekh, Harendra S., Cooper, Helen M. and Xu, Zhi Ping (2014). Engineering small MgAl-layered double hydroxide nanoparticles for enhanced gene delivery. Applied Clay Science, 100 (C), 66-75. doi: 10.1016/j.clay.2014.04.028
2014
Journal Article
Asymmetric peptide dendrimers are effective linkers for antibody-mediated delivery of diverse payloads to B cells in vitro and in vivo
Shah, Neha D., Parekh, Harendra S. and Steptoe, Raymond J. (2014). Asymmetric peptide dendrimers are effective linkers for antibody-mediated delivery of diverse payloads to B cells in vitro and in vivo. Pharmaceutical Research, 31 (11), 3150-3160. doi: 10.1007/s11095-014-1408-1
2014
Journal Article
Enhancement in deposition and permeation of 5-fluorouracil through human epidermis assisted by peptide dendrimers.
Mutalik, Srinivas, Shetty, Pallavi K., Kumar, Aravind, Kalra, Rohit and Parekh, Harendra S. (2014). Enhancement in deposition and permeation of 5-fluorouracil through human epidermis assisted by peptide dendrimers.. Drug Delivery, 21 (1), 44-54. doi: 10.3109/10717544.2013.845861
2014
Journal Article
The application of quantitative NMR for the facile, rapid and reliable determination of clindamycin phosphate in a conventional tablet formulation
Liang, Xianrui, Du, Liping, Su, Feng, Parekh, Harendra S. and Sua, Weike (2014). The application of quantitative NMR for the facile, rapid and reliable determination of clindamycin phosphate in a conventional tablet formulation. Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, Early View (4), 1-5. doi: 10.1002/mrc.4048
2014
Book Chapter
A new dawn for the use of traditional Chinese medicine in cancer therapy
Parekh, Harendra S., Liu, Gang and Wei, Ming Q. (2014). A new dawn for the use of traditional Chinese medicine in cancer therapy. Recent advances in plant-based, traditional, and natural medicines. (pp. 131-150) edited by Subramayam Vemulpad and Joanne Jamie. Oakville, ON, Canada: Apple Academic Press.
2013
Journal Article
Contributions of intestine and plasma to the presystemic bioconversion of Vicagrel, an acetate of clopidogrel
Qiu, Zhixia, Li, Ning, Song, Ling, Lu, Yang, Jing, Jing, Parekha, Harendra S., Gao, Wenchao, Tian, Fengjie, Wang, Xin, Ren, Shuangxia and Chen, Xijing (2013). Contributions of intestine and plasma to the presystemic bioconversion of Vicagrel, an acetate of clopidogrel. Pharmaceutical Research, 31 (1), 238-251. doi: 10.1007/s11095-013-1158-5
2013
Journal Article
Rapid identification of primary constituents in parotoid gland secretions of the Australian cane toad using HPLC/MS-Q-TOF
Jing, Jing, Ren, Wei C., Li, Chun, Bose, Utpal, Parekh, Harendra S. and Wei, Ming Q. (2013). Rapid identification of primary constituents in parotoid gland secretions of the Australian cane toad using HPLC/MS-Q-TOF. Biomedical Chromatography, 27 (6), 685-687. doi: 10.1002/bmc.2858
2013
Journal Article
Advances in analytical technologies to evaluate the quality of traditional Chinese medicines
Jing, Jing, Ren, Weichao, Chen, Si Bao, Wei, Ming and Parekh, Harendra S. (2013). Advances in analytical technologies to evaluate the quality of traditional Chinese medicines. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 44, 39-45. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2012.11.006
2013
Book Chapter
Fluorescent nucleic acid probes in living cells
Seefeld, Anne, Kokil, Ganesh R., Tupally, Karnaker R., Parekh, Harendra S. and Herten, Dirk-Peter (2013). Fluorescent nucleic acid probes in living cells. DNA and RNA nanobiotechnologies in medicine: diagnosis and treatment of diseases. (pp. 291-328) edited by Volker A. Erdmann and Jan Barciszewski. Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-36853-0_12
2013
Journal Article
Iontophoresis-Mediated Transdermal Permeation of Peptide Dendrimers across Human Epidermis
Mutalik, S., Parekh, H. S., Anissimov, Y. G., Grice, J. E. and Roberts, M. S. (2013). Iontophoresis-Mediated Transdermal Permeation of Peptide Dendrimers across Human Epidermis. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 26 (3), 127-138. doi: 10.1159/000348469
2012
Journal Article
Native and β-cyclodextrin-enclosed curcumin: entrapment within liposomes and their in vitro cytotoxicity in lung and colon cancer
Rahman, Shafiur, Cao, Siyu, Steadman, Kathryn J., Wei, Ming and Parekh, Harendra S. (2012). Native and β-cyclodextrin-enclosed curcumin: entrapment within liposomes and their in vitro cytotoxicity in lung and colon cancer. Drug Delivery, 19 (7), 346-353. doi: 10.3109/10717544.2012.721143
2012
Journal Article
Sonophoresis-mediated permeation and retention of peptide dendrimers across human epidermis
Mutalik, Srinivas, Nayak, Usha Y., Kalra, Rohit, Kumar, Aravind, Kulkarni, Raghavendra V. and Parekh, Harendra (2012). Sonophoresis-mediated permeation and retention of peptide dendrimers across human epidermis. Skin Research and Technology, 18 (1), 101-107. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0846.2011.00539.x
2011
Journal Article
Development of an in-line HPLC fingerprint ion-trap mass spectrometric method for identification and quality control of Radix Scrophulariae
Jing, Jing, Chan, Chi-on, Xu, Lijia, Jin, Dengping, Cao, Xinwei, Mok, Daniel K. W., Parekh, H. S. and Chen, Sibao (2011). Development of an in-line HPLC fingerprint ion-trap mass spectrometric method for identification and quality control of Radix Scrophulariae. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 56 (4), 830-835. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2011.07.032
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Harendra Parekh is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Bioresponsive non-viral drug/gene delivery systems
-
Nanobubbles and Ultrasound in theranostic applications
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of an acoustofluidic ocular drug delivery platform: Preparations for clinical translation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martin Veidt, Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally
-
Doctor Philosophy
Application of Sol-gel Technology for the Treatment of Gynaecological Conditions
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Marie-Odile Parat
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of an acoustofluidic ocular drug delivery platform: Preparations for clinical translation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martin Veidt, Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally
-
Doctor Philosophy
Application of Sol-gel Technology for the Treatment of Gynaecological Conditions
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Marie-Odile Parat
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Antibacterial Topical Formulations for Post-Production Wine By-Products
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zyta M Ziora, Dr Anjana Jayasree
-
Doctor Philosophy
The pharmacological evaluation of beta-endorphin analogues: opioid-based bivalent peptide DB1-7 targeting multiple opioid receptors.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally, Dr Danial Saifuddin, Professor Peter Cabot
-
Doctor Philosophy
the role of TLR4 in the effect of opioids on tumour growth and metastasis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally, Professor Peter Cabot
-
Doctor Philosophy
Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of KOPr/NOPr opioid peptides for the treatment of pain and opioid use disorder
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally, Professor Peter Cabot
-
Doctor Philosophy
The pharmacological evaluation of beta-endorphin analogues: opioid-based bivalent peptide DB1-7 targeting multiple opioid receptors.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally, Professor Peter Cabot
-
Doctor Philosophy
Gel-based drug delivery monitored via medical imaging
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally, Dr Brett Paterson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Nannochloropsis: a synthetic biology platform
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Brett Ferguson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Bivalent opioid constructs as allosteric modulators of nociception
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally, Professor Peter Cabot
-
Doctor Philosophy
Nannochloropsis: a potential chassis strain for synthetic biology in microbial photoautotrophs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Brett Ferguson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Breakthrough medicines & brain delivery solutions for Alzheimer's disease: Synergising emerging drugs with an advanced sol-gel nose-to-brain platform delivery system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ben Ross
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Development of an acoustofluidic ocular drug delivery platform: Preparations for clinical translation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martin Veidt, Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Development and evaluation of novel ligand-targeted bioreducible gene-carrier systems in type 2 diabetes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Grant Ramm
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel opioid peptides for the treatment of pain and inflammatory diseases
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
IDENTIFICATION AND INDUCED BIOSYNTHESIS OF NATURAL HEALTH COMPOUNDS IN MICROALGAE
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Michael Netzel, Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally
-
2018
Master Philosophy
Development of a lipoid microbubble formulation and in vitro evaluation assisted by ultrasound
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Development and Functional Evaluation of a Corticosteroid-based Mucoadhesive In-Situ Nasal Gelling System for Post-operative Sinusitis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot, Professor Ben Panizza
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Ultrasound-Responsive Nanobubbles for the Enhancement of Posterior Eye Drug Delivery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Marie-Odile Parat
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Engineering novel, steric stabilized disulfide-containing amino acids and their application in carrier system, therapeutic peptide and FRET-probe synthesis
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Development and delivery of novel modified siRNA-based therapeutics against type 2 diabetes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Grant Ramm
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
DNA delivery to immune cells via a novel antibody targeted system
Principal Advisor
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
The rational design, synthesis and evaluation of non-viral gene delivery systems based on a computer aided drug design
Principal Advisor
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Bivalent opioid constructs as allosteric modulators of nociception
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally, Professor Peter Cabot
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Progression and Therapeutics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sherry Wu
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Nose-to-Brain Delivery of Clozapine in Sol-Gel Systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Dan Siskind, Dr James Robert Falconer
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation into the selective extraction of cannabinoids from cannabis using supercritical carbon dioxide
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr James Robert Falconer
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Acoustofluidic manipulation of microbubbles for targeted drug delivery applications
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martin Veidt
-
2021
Master Philosophy
Formulation design, development and simulated delivery - Sol-gels as a treatment of recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ben Panizza, Professor Peter Cabot
-
2020
Master Philosophy
The development and assessment of a thermoresponsive otic formulation for the treatment of otitis externa
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ben Panizza, Professor Peter Cabot
-
2019
Master Philosophy
The in vivo assessment of dexamethasone-based thermoresponsive, mucoadhesive sol-gels in human sinonasal mucosa
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ben Panizza, Professor Peter Cabot
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
The role of caveolae in chemical carrier-mediated cellular delivery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Marie-Odile Parat
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Caveola-Forming Proteins in Prostate Cancer Angiogenesis and Lymphangiogenesis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Marie-Odile Parat
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a Composite Layered Double Hydroxide-liposomal System for Gene Delivery
Associate Advisor
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Development of lipid based systems for delivery of an anticancer agent and a LDH gene delivery vector
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Kathryn Steadman
-
-
2008
Master Philosophy
Microencapsulated immunostimulating complexes (ISCOMs) as a basis for single-shot vaccines
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Shaw
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Harendra Parekh directly for media enquiries about:
- Bubble liposomes
- Cancer - prostate
- Dendrimers
- Dendrosomes
- Diabetes
- Gene delivery systems - in pharmacy
- Liposomes - bubble
- Non-viral gene delivery systems in pharmacy
- Pharmacy
- Prostate cancer
- siRNA delivery - pharmacy
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: