Assist Prof Dr. Chitchamai Ovatlarnporn | Drug development | Best Researcher Award

Assist Prof Dr. Chitchamai Ovatlarnporn at Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla, Thailand

👨‍🎓Professional Profiles

• Orcid Profile
• Google Scholar Profile

🧑‍🏫 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Chitchamai Ovatlarnporn’s academic journey began with a solid foundation in pharmacy. She earned her Bachelor of Pharmacy (Second Honours) from Songkhla University in 1990. Building on this, she went on to pursue higher education internationally, receiving a Master’s Degree in Biotechnology from the University of Kent at Canterbury in 1993, and later obtaining a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Ottawa in 2000. This educational progression laid the groundwork for her distinguished career in pharmaceutical sciences, particularly in the areas of drug delivery systems, medicinal chemistry, and biotechnology.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Dr. Ovatlarnporn’s professional career has been deeply intertwined with both academic and research excellence. She holds a prominent position as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Thailand. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is a pivotal figure in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at PSU, where she focuses on cutting-edge pharmaceutical research, particularly related to drug development and delivery systems. Over the years, she has successfully combined her roles as an educator, researcher, and consultant in various national and international research projects.

Her expertise extends to consulting for product development and research with projects like Move World Together and Tech2BiZ, reflecting her dynamic role in fostering innovation within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Ovatlarnporn’s research is diverse and far-reaching, focusing primarily on drug delivery systems, pharmaceutical chemistry, and biotechnology. One of her major research interests lies in the development of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, such as the preparation and evaluation of nanomicelles for enhanced solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs like curcumin and resveratrol.

She has also made significant contributions to pharmacological research, investigating the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties of various medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds. Her work also includes genetic engineering, the synthesis of novel compounds, and the utilization of biopolymers for targeted drug delivery systems, particularly in colon-specific drug delivery.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Dr. Ovatlarnporn’s work has had a significant impact on both the academic and pharmaceutical industries. Her research on tetrhydrocurcumins, curcumin derivatives, and chitosan-based drug delivery systems has opened new avenues for cancer therapy, chronic disease management, and sustainable biopharmaceutical innovations.

Her published works are frequently cited in high-impact journals such as Food Bioscience, Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, and Molecules, making her an influential researcher in her field. Her studies on natural compounds such as Viola stocksii and Tiliacora triandra have advanced the scientific understanding of their pharmacological potentials, contributing to the growing body of knowledge in natural product-based drug development.

📚 Academic Cites & Recognition

Dr. Ovatlarnporn has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed papers, making significant contributions to the fields of medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical biotechnology, and drug delivery systems. Notable publications include:

• “Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Potential of Cardamine Amara L.” published in Frontiers in Chemistry (Impact Factor: 5.5).
• “Insights into the remarkable attenuation of hen egg white lysozyme amyloid fibril formation mediated by biogenic gold nanoparticles” in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (Impact Factor: 8.2).
• Research on Acanthus ebracteatus and its bioactive properties, published in Molecules.

Her work is widely recognized, with her publications frequently cited by fellow researchers and practitioners in the pharmaceutical sciences, demonstrating her high standing in the global research community.

🛠 Technical Skills

Dr. Ovatlarnporn is proficient in a wide range of technical skills essential to her research work. These include:

• Nanotechnology and Drug Delivery Systems: Expertise in the preparation and evaluation of drug formulations, particularly nanomicelles and nanoemulsions.
• Medicinal Chemistry: Deep knowledge of bioactive natural products, their chemical properties, and potential therapeutic applications.
• Pharmacological Research: Extensive experience in designing and conducting in vitro and in vivo studies to assess the biological activity of plant-based compounds.
• Analytical Techniques: Skilled in HPLC, GC-MS, NMR, and spectroscopic methods for the identification and quantification of bioactive compounds.
• Molecular Docking & Computational Studies: Proficient in using in silico models for studying molecular interactions and optimizing drug efficacy.

👨‍🏫 Teaching Experience

As an academic leader at Prince of Songkla University, Dr. Ovatlarnporn has had a profound influence on shaping the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists. Her teaching areas cover various aspects of medicinal chemistry, drug delivery systems, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical technology. She is known for integrating cutting-edge research findings into her curriculum, ensuring that students are exposed to the latest advancements in the field. Her mentoring has inspired numerous graduate students, many of whom have gone on to achieve their own academic and professional successes.

🌱 Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking forward, Dr. Ovatlarnporn is committed to advancing research on nanotechnology and its applications in targeted drug delivery systems. She aims to further her work on sustainable biopharmaceutical innovations and natural product-based therapies, especially in cancer treatment and chronic disease management. Her research in collaboration with industry partners promises to continue to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial product development, ensuring that her contributions have lasting real-world impact.

In the future, Dr. Ovatlarnporn plans to focus on enhancing the bioavailability of natural bioactive compounds, developing more efficient drug delivery platforms, and promoting interdisciplinary collaborations within the fields of pharmacy, biotechnology, and medicine. Her continued dedication to research excellence and academic mentorship ensures her legacy will live on in both the scientific community and the generations of students she has mentored.