Department of Chemistry, Unit Catalogue 2011/12 |
|
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
Semester 2 |
| Assessment:
| CW25EX75 |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take CH50198 |
| Description:
| Aims: Familiarise the student with the chemical and biochemical processes that control major physiological systems, describing how they are integrated and regulated. Emphasis on individual case studies of disease mechanisms and the drugs used to treat them with the aim of gaining a full understanding of all of the factors that must be considered in designing new drug molecules. Learning Outcomes: After taking this course the student should be able to: * Understand the structure and function of cell organelles with particular emphasis on how each system interacts with each other and how drug molecules can be designed to maintain homeostasis * Be aware of the composition of different bodily fluids with an emphasis on the biological function of the major components of blood and the central role that it plays in drug delivery * Use case studies from the primary literature to critically assess how different therapeutic strategies have been developed to regulate both cardiovascular and central nervous systems at a molecular level. * Compare case studies to illustrate how the solution behaviour of drugs and the role of solution thermodynamics in drug delivery are critical to the development of new drug molecules. * Recognize the fundamental physical properties that are important in drug-receptor interactions and be able to use factors such as 'log P' values, Lapinski�s rules and structure/activity relationship data to design new types of drug molecule. * Understand how an understanding of drug metabolism is critical to the drug discovery process and be able to critically evaluate what strategies can be used to address admet problems in different scenarios. Skills: Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Numeracy & computation T/F/A, Problem solving T/F, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Working independently T/F, Career preparation T/F. Content: Overview of multi-cellular organisms. Body fluid composition and compartmentalisation; Neurones � basic anatomy and physiology of the central and autonomic nervous systems; Blood and the immune system, pH, respiration, metabolic rate; Hormones and the endocrine system; Gut motility and absorption; The cardiovascular system; Mechanisms used for detoxification; Regulation of blood pressure, oxygen levels and glucose levels. Relevant examples of different drugs directed at different biological systems with an emphasis on understanding their mode of action at a physiological level. Different types of drug targets. Assays used to test for biological activity. Drug polarity and functional group effects. Solvents and solute-solvent interactions. Acid-base equilibria, pH/drug dissociation profiles. Forces involved in protein-ligand interactions. Routes of drug administration, drug absorption and distribution. Active and passive transport of drugs across membranes. An introduction to drug metabolism and excretion. Properties of drugs described by the Lapinski rules. |
| Programme availability: |
CH50199 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Chemistry
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