module specification

CY5083 - Principles of Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Delivery (2024/25)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2024/25
Module title Principles of Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Delivery
Module level Intermediate (05)
Credit rating for module 15
School School of Human Sciences
Total study hours 150
 
20.5 hours Assessment Preparation / Delivery
92 hours Guided independent study
37.5 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
Coursework 40%   Data handling exercise (1500 words)
Unseen Examination 60%   Spring Semester exam (1.5 hours)
Running in 2024/25

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
Period Campus Day Time Module Leader
Spring semester North Tuesday Morning

Module summary

This module will equip students with a fundamental understanding of drug preformulation/formulation and different routes of administration. Throughout the module students will develop an ability to simulate data important to the subject matter.

 

This module aims to equip students with information on how to (a) preformulate drugs – medicines (b) explain kinetic processes involving medicines (c) understand how various pharmaceutical formulations can exert different biological outcomes. Understanding and appreciating the physiological aspects of the human body and physicochemical properties of drugs are essential to explaining how these processes affect the behaviour of different medicines.

Prior learning requirements

BE4053 & BE4055.

Available for Study Abroad? YES

Syllabus

Principles of Pharmacokinetics (LO 1 – 2)

  • Absorption and bioavailability
  • Metabolism
  • Volume of distribution
  • Clearance
  • Elimination
  • Steady state and therapeutic window
  • Use of pharmacokinetic software to investigate drug disposition

Biopharmaceutical principles of drug delivery (LO 1 – 3)

  • Biopharmaceutical classification system
  • Routes of drug administration and absorption (physiological factors)
  • Intravenous
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Transdermal/dermal
  • Inhalation
  • Ocular, nasal
  • CNS

Formulation factors affecting different routes of administration (LO 2 – 4)

  • Parenteral
  • Oral
  • Topical/transdermal
  • Aerosols
  • Eye formulations
  • Nasal formulations
  • Bioavailability & bioequivalence

Introduction to preformulation studies (LO 5)

  • Solubility
  • Partition coefficients
  • pH and pKa
  • Osmolarity
  • Polymorphism, salt forms
  • Particle size
  • Stability

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

Students will be provided with a range of activities to accommodate different learning styles. The module delivery will consist of lectures (26.5 hours) and tutorials (11 hours).

 

Lecture and tutorial sessions will include ‘punctuated lectures’ and ‘minute papers’ thus providing opportunities for ‘active engagement’ and to reflect on what has or has not been understood during the sessions. In-class verbal feedback will be provided and students encouraged and directed towards relevant subject matter material. The tutorial sessions will include various types as well descriptive/discussion elements. Students will be expected to prepare in advance for these sessions (11 hours – directed).

 

Pharmacokinetic data manipulation will stress the importance of organisational proficiency by reflective work and will augment dry practical skills to produce reliable experimental data. Peer – peer interactions will be encouraged via group reflection thus developing communication, data handling and interpretation skills. This will culminate in the submission of a summative assessment consisting of an individual piece of data handling coursework which will include a discussion section to encourage critical thinking.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to:

  1. Understand the quantitative methods with which drug actions are measured.
  2. Predict the fate of specified drugs and routes of delivery using knowledge of pharmacokinetics.
  3. Recognize the physiological factors and formulation characteristics that affect drug bioavailability.
  4. Critically assess the rationale when choosing specific dosage forms for different routes of administration.
  5. To display an understanding of the importance of preformulation studies for successful delivery of drugs.

Bibliography

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/A2F2E4BB-BBC9-2B4A-A28B-3589A340DDC7.html?lang=en-US&login=1