Unit MOLECULAR BASIS OF THE PHARMACY ACTION

BIOMATERIALS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL USE

Code	55057506
CFU	3
Teacher	Stefano Giovagnoli
Teachers	Stefano Giovagnoli
Hours	21 ore - Stefano Giovagnoli
Learning activities	Affine/integrativa
Area	Attività formative affini o integrative
Sector	CHIM/09
Type of study-unit	Opzionale (Optional)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	Introduction to the chemistry and thermodynamics of polymers. Biopolymer concept, properties and characterization methods. Applications in the Pharmaceutical and Biomedical fields.
Reference texts	The material needed is provided by the teacher- slides and scientific publications in international journals
Educational objectives	The course provides a theoretical knowledge of biomaterials and biopolymers used as carriers and support systems for drugs and biological systems. Knowledge-The knowledge to be acquired by the student concerns the basics of biopolymer chemistry and technology. in particular the student will have to demonstrate to have understood the nature of the polymers in clinical use and the problems related to their properties, and to show that they have understood the selection criteria of these materials in pharmaceutical and biomedical use. Skills - the student will have to acquire the decision-making ability on the considered choice of the appropriate polymer in relation to the type of therapeutic target and the type of pathology. Moreover, he will have to develop the ability to study the topic in an autonomous way and discuss the literature of the sector.
Prerequisites	In order to guarantee a sufficient level of learning, the student must have acquired knowledge of organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry. Furthermore, basic knowledge of biochemistry and basic physiology and some histological aspects are fundamental. In particular, a basic knowledge of thermodynamics and physical chemistry is required. This knowledge is important due to the multidisciplinary nature of the course that ranges from biological systems to technologies applied to medicinal forms. In this regard, a deepening of the concepts underlying the useful approaches to drug delivery is suggested. Some of these targeted aspects will be addressed at the beginning of the course.
Teaching methods	The course consists of classroom lectures on topics with special attention to involve the student to retrieve and evaluate the basic knowledge necessary for learning. For this purpose, the slides of the course and literature on recent scientific advances in the field will be provided. This is believed necessary given the lack of a reference text to didactic scope of the student. Both the multi-disciplinary course and the advanced level of the didactic material that the student has available require continuous support from the teacher to verify that the student has the right level of understanding of the topics discussed. In addition, the course includes a period of continuous updating due to the rapid progress in the field that is carried out through analysis of the scientific literature. Furthermore, the course includes laboratory hours in which the student will experience with methods of preparation and characterization of advanced pharmaceutical delivery systems such as polymeric and/or lipid nanoparticles and liposomes using microfluidic technologies to encapsulate active molecules of interest and biomolecules.
Other information	Upon request by the students, support activities will be carried out after the course to develop certain aspects of the course to be agreed with the students and help the students in the activity of connection of prior knowledge and necessary learning and new knowledge gained during the course. This activity will be held at the Center of Biotechnology in via del Giochetto
Learning verification modality	Oral examinations, consisting of questions relating to theoretical aspects inherent to the topics dealt with during the course and aimed at ascertaining their knowledge and understanding on the part of the student, as well as the ability to present their content; in particular the student will have to demonstrate to have understood the nature of the polymers in clinical use and the problems related to their properties, and to show that they have understood the selection criteria of these materials in pharmaceutical and biomedical use. Such aspects are a fundamental requisite for biotechnologist professional formation. Furthermore, the student's ability to study the topic independently and discuss the literature of the sector will also be evaluated.
Extended program	Definition of biomaterials and biopolymers- classes of polymers, properties and characterization: natural, semisynthetic and synthetic. Polysaccharides, lipids, polyacrylates, polyesters, polyoxyethylens and propylene. Description of the main polymers used as excipients- role of the excipient- principle of drug delivery and modified release systems- overview. Examples of last generation oral drug delivery systems and micro and nanoparticle systems for parenteral use.

PRINCIPLES OF PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY

Code	A000989
CFU	3
Teacher	Serena Massari
Teachers	Serena Massari
Hours	21 ore - Serena Massari
Learning activities	Affine/integrativa
Area	Attività formative affini o integrative
Sector	CHIM/08
Type of study-unit	Opzionale (Optional)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	This course introduces the fundamental principles of pharmaceutical chemistry. Topics include drug design and development strategies; the chemical, physical, and structural properties of drugs; structure-activity relationships (SAR); mechanisms of action; biological targets; and the therapeutic uses of main pharmacological agents belonging to various therapeutic classes.
Reference texts	Appunti di lezione; Lemke, T.L.; Williams, D.A. Foye's Principi di Chimica Farmaceutica. VI Ed. Italiana. Piccin (Padova) Graham L. Patrick. Chimica Farmaceutica Edizione Integrata a cura di G. Costantino. 2015. EdiSES (Napoli) Gasco A.; Gualtieri, F.; Melchiorre C. Chimica Farmaceutica. I Ed. 2015. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana (Milano)
Educational objectives	Upon completing the course, students will be able to: - Describe the fundamental principles of pharmaceutical chemistry and its role in the drug discovery and development process. - Understand the main stages of researching, designing, optimizing, and developing new molecules with therapeutic activity. - Correlate the chemical, physical, and structural properties of drugs with their biological activity and behavior in the body. - Interpret pharmacokinetic processes, such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination, and evaluate their influence on drug efficacy and safety. - Analyze the molecular mechanisms underlying drug action, particularly drug-target interactions and the types of bonds involved. - Identify and describe the main biological targets of drugs, such as receptors, enzymes, and nucleic acids. - Apply the principles of structure-activity relationships (SAR) to understand how structural modifications affect a molecule's pharmacological properties. - Evaluate strategies for optimizing the interaction between a drug and a biological target to improve efficacy, selectivity, and the pharmacokinetic profile. - Understand the concept of a prodrug and the main motivations behind designing prodrugs for therapeutic purposes. - Use appropriate scientific terminology to critically discuss aspects of drug design, development, and action.
Prerequisites	Students enrolling in this course must have a foundation in organic chemistry, biology, and biochemistry.
Teaching methods	The course includes lectures on the theoretical aspects of pharmaceutical chemistry, as well as practical laboratory activities that apply the concepts covered in the lectures. Lectures are held in person and supported by course materials made available in advance on the UNISTUDIUM platform. Laboratory exercises focus on researching and analyzing scientific literature, studying the chemical and physical properties of bioactive molecules, using computational tools to characterize drug structures, and applying computer-aided drug design methodologies to identify hits and optimize them into leads. These activities will be carried out using software and computational platforms commonly used in pharmaceutical research.
Learning verification modality	Learning is assessed through an oral exam designed to determine if the learning objectives of the course have been met, as well as to evaluate the student’s understanding of the topics covered in lectures and practical activities. The assessment considers not only the knowledge acquired but also the student’s ability to apply learned concepts, critically analyze scientific issues, connect the various course topics, and develop independent, coherent reasoning. Clarity of presentation, proper language use, and appropriate scientific terminology usage will also be evaluated. The exam lasts approximately 30 minutes. For information on support services for students with disabilities and/or learning disabilities, please visit http://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa.
Extended program	Introduction to Pharmaceutical Chemistry: The Discovery and Development of New Drugs. The chemical, physical, and structural properties of drugs and their biological activity. Pharmacokinetics, including the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs. Molecular Mechanisms of Drug Action: Drug-Target Interactions and Key Bonds Involved in Pharmacological Action Drug targets include receptors, enzymes, and nucleic acids. Structure-activity relationships (SAR). Optimization of drug interaction with the biological target. Prodrugs. Computer laboratory activities will focus on acquiring practical skills in using scientific databases and computational tools for literature searches and analyzing the chemical, physical, and structural properties of bioactive molecules. These activities will also cover applying computer-aided drug design approaches. We will also introduce methodologies used in hit identification, hit-to-lead optimization, and rational drug design processes using software commonly employed in pharmaceutical research. Examples drawn from the main therapeutic classes, including antibiotics, antivirals, anti-inflammatories, antihypertensives, and other clinically relevant drugs (including biotechnological drugs), will be presented and discussed to illustrate the application of pharmaceutical chemistry principles to real-world cases.
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