VPS3081 - Biopharmaceutics

Leader(s): Dr Joseph Nicolazzo

Offered

Parkville First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides the student with basic principles of pharmacokinetics and a basic understanding of the factors involved in delivery of drugs via various routes. This unit will provide a basis for later units where the understanding of pharmacokinetics is important.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Determine pharmacokinetic parameters such as half-life, volume of distribution and clearance from plasma level data using simple pharmacokinetic models;
2. Calculate predicted plasma concentrations of drugs given the pharmacokinetic parameters of the drug;
3. Be able to process plasma level data using product moment analysis to determine mean residence times and mean access times;
4. Understand the kinetics of multiple dosing;
5. Understand the physical, chemical and biological factors that control the absorption of drugs administered orally;
6. Understand the concept of bioavailability and how it is measured;
7. Understand the methods of dissolution testing and how dissolution tests can be used to predict bioavailability;
8. Understand the physical, chemical and biological factors affecting parenteral drug delivery;
9. Understand how to formulate injectable products;
10. Understand formulation techniques for poorly water soluble drugs;
11. Understand the factors affecting drug delivery to the eye;
12. Understand the factors affecting drug delivery to the buccal cavity;
13. Understand the factors affecting drug delivery to the nasal cavity;
14. Understand the factors affecting topical and transdermal drug delivery;
15. Understand the factors affecting pulmonary drug delivery;
16. Understand the factors affecting vaginal and rectal drug delivery.

Assessment

various during semester: 20%; end of semster examination: 80%

Contact hours

36 1 hour lectures and twelve 1 hour tutorials/presentations/conversations

Prerequisites

PSC1082 Physiology II (previously VPS1082)

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/