Unit PRINCIPLES OF PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY
- Course
- Quality control of healthcare products
- Study-unit Code
- A000989
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Stefano Sabatini
- Teachers
-
- Stefano Sabatini
- Hours
- 42 ore - Stefano Sabatini
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2025
- Offered
- 2026/27
- Learning activities
- Caratterizzante
- Area
- Discipline farmaceutiche e tecnologiche
- Sector
- CHIM/08
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- ITALIAN
- Contents
- An introduction to general medicinal chemistry. Main molecular targets and drug mechanisms of action. Drug discovery, design and development.
- Reference texts
- 1. PDF slides of lectures (UNISTUDIUM)
https://www.unistudium.unipg.it/unistudium/login/index.php
2. P. L. Graham - CHIMICA FARMACEUTICA (EdiSES), 2015 (3rd Ed.)
3. Gasco A., Gualtieri F., Melchiorre C. - CHIMICA FARMACEUTICA (Ambrosiana – Zanichelli), 2020 (2nd Ed.)
4. Foye’s - PRINCIPI DI CHIMICA FARMACEUTICA (Piccin), 2021 (7th Ed. - Translation of the 8th American Ed.) - Educational objectives
- The course aims to introduce students to the field of drug’s chemistry and provide them with an understanding of the molecular basis of drug action.
- Prerequisites
- This course is designed for students who have a fundamental understanding of organic chemistry and biochemistry.
- Teaching methods
- There will be classroom lectures on all course topics, with PowerPoint presentations and videos uploaded to UNISTUDIUM in PDF format a few days before each lesson.
- Other information
- Online lessons using synchronous or asynchronous teaching methods.
- Learning verification modality
- The final exam includes an oral examination consisting of a discussion of the topics covered during the course, as set out in the syllabus.
It is designed to evaluate students' knowledge of the fundamental principles of medicinal chemistry and the drug discovery and development process. Students' presentation skills and language proficiency will also be assessed. The length of the exam varies depending on its progress (the average duration is approximately 30 minutes). - Extended program
- Definition of a drug or medicinal product. Structurally specific drugs. Pharmacodynamics (how drugs work). Intermolecular interactions between drugs and biological targets. Drug targets: the structure and function of proteins (e.g. enzymes, receptors, ion channels, ion pumps and transport proteins) and nucleic acids. Enzymes and drugs: reversible, irreversible, competitive, uncompetitive, non-competitive and allosteric inhibitors. Case study: anti-HIV drugs. Receptors: receptor theories, signal transduction pathways, and concepts of affinity, intrinsic activity, potency and efficacy. Signal transduction pathways. Receptors and drugs: agonists (pure and partial), antagonists (competitive, non-competitive, allosteric and irreversible) and inverse agonists. Case study: opioid analgesics. Nucleic acids and drugs: intercalating agents, alkylating agents and chain terminators. Structurally non-specific drugs.
Drug discovery and development: (From bench to market/bedside): discovery -> hit compound; design -> lead compound; development -> drug.
Isosterism and bioisosterism. The principles of pharmacokinetics and strategies for the synthesis of prodrugs (bioprecursors and carrier prodrugs). - Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
- Health and well-being;
Quality education;
Industry, innovation, and infrastructure.