24L/96P
This course will introduce students to theoretical and applied concepts in pharmaceutical chemistry, in research, development, and manufacturing contexts. The course is designed with lectures and laboratories covering major areas in pharmaceutical chemistry, which have been carefully scheduled together to link concepts discussed during lectures to practical hands-on activities. The course covers selected topics pertinent to drug development such as acid/base equilibria, buffer preparation, drug solubility, drug polymorphs and salt selection, pKa, and co-solvency. The course also examines characterizing properties of common liquid, semi-solid and solid drug vehicles, such as viscosity, degradation kinetics/stability, diffusivity, tonicity, particle size distribution, and powder flowability. Emphasis is placed on the process of drug manufacture. Laboratory equipment used is commonly found in formulation labs, pharmacies, pharmaceutical research laboratories, and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. A lecture module on ethics and academic integrity will discuss cutting-edge applications of ethics in research, and issues arising when complex scientific solutions are proposed to regulatory bodies and to the public eye.