PSC2222 - Formulation chemistry - 2017

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Coordinator(s)

Dr Angus Johnston

Unit guides

Offered

Parkville

  • Second semester 2017 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides the conceptual and intellectual foundation for further studies in B Pharm Science (formulation stream) units in 3rd year. Broad areas covered include detailed study of chemical and physical stability in liquid and in solid pharmaceutical systems; overview of biotechnologically produced proteins, including their manufacture, characterization, stability and delivery; and a survey of the main pharmaceutical excipients.

Outcomes

On completion of the unit students will:

  1. Solve problems using standard methods for quantitative analysis of concentration-time profiles, to obtain degradation rate constants, half-lives and shelf-lives;
  2. Solve problems involving the physicochemical factors that influence reaction rates, especially the roles of temperature and acid-base equilibria;
  3. Describe the common mechanisms for chemical degradation of typical organic drugs and excipients, and their applicability to new situations, with emphasis on
    1. nucleophilic reactions
    2. free radical reactions
  4. Solve problems requiring application of methods for minimising the extent of degradation reactions, thus leading to increased life-times of formulated products;
  5. Identify the conditions under which the kinetics involved in oxidation, photochemical and solid state degradation reactions can be separated into simple and complex models;
  6. Describe the key physicochemical issues for therapeutic proteins, including formulation by lyophilisation;
  7. Describe a wide range of common pharmaceutical excipient types, their physicochemical properties and their roles in formulations.

Assessment

Assessment will use a written examination (120mins; 60%); marked lab class reports (20%); written assignment (5%); in-semester testing 15%

Workload requirements

Contact hours for on-campus students:

  • Three lectures per week
  • One tutorial
  • Eighteen hours of laboratory
  • Three hours of directed study per week

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

Prerequisites

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