Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, Unit Catalogue 2009/10 |
PA30246: Medicines design |
 Credits:
| 12 |
| Level:
| Honours |
| Period: | Academic Year |
| Assessment:
| EX 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| |
| Description: | Aims: To develop knowledge and understanding of (a) the routes of drug administration and (b) the preparation of medicines. Learning Outcomes: After taking this unit, the student will demonstrate an understanding of 1) routes of drug delivery - their comparative advantages and disadvantages and the requirements imposed on medicines by the desired route of administration; 2) common dosage forms of medicines - the technological process involved in the formulation of medicines and choice of excipients, the critical parameters involved in the production of dosage forms, their stability and efficacy, the requirements and tests that each type of dosage form must meet, labelling and packaging of pharmaceuticals; 3) newer developments in medicines design - controlled drug delivery systems and targeted delivery systems, the challenges in delivering biopharmaceuticals (genes, DNA, antibodies, vaccines, proteins and peptides). Skills: Study skills, handling information, working with others (T/F) Oral and written communication skills (T/F) Problem solving (T/F) Content: Comparative overview of routes of drug administration. Physiological aspects that determine drug absorption and disposition. Importance of the dosage form. Dosage forms: Solids - powders, granules, tablets, capsules, lozenges, suppositories; Solutions - parenterals, oral and ophthalmic solutions; Disperse phase systems- emulsions, suspensions, aerosols, sprays; Colloidal systems - Gels, microemulsions, nanoparticles, liposomes; Others - semisolids, implantables, transdermal devices. Advanced drug delivery systems. Integration with drug pharmacokinetics, and disposition. Packaging and labelling. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). |