Ateneo - UPO

It is an advanced teaching of pharmaceutical technology, aimed to describe the concepts, the strategies and the technologies employed in the production of therapeutic systems, pharmaceutical forms that are able to control the release of a drug, to modify its absorption and to target it to the site of action.

Colombo P et al. Principi di tecnologie farmaceutiche. 2° Ed, 2015, Ed. Ambrosiana.
Aulton ME, Taylor K.M.G. Tecnologie farmaceutiche, 2015 EDRA LSWR.
R. Notari - Biofarmaceutica e Farmacocinetica - Piccin Ed.
L. Shargel and A.B.C. Yu - Biofarmaceutica e Farmacocinetica - Masson
A.T. Florence, D.T. Attwood - Physicochemical Principles of Pharmacy - MacMillan Press, Hong Kong
L. Lachman, H.A. Liebermann, J.L. Kanig - The Theory and Practice of Industrial Pharmacy - Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia
M. Chasin and R. Langer - Biodegradable Polymers as Drug Delivery Systems - Marcel Dekker Inc.
S. Vomero - Chimica Farmaceutica Applicata - La Gogliardica, Eur Roma
Alexander Steinbüchel and Robert H. Marchessault - Biopolymers for medical and pharmaceutical applications - Wiley-VCH, vol. 1 e 2.

The course objective is to provide students with knowledge about the characteristics and functions of therapeutic systems and the ability to understand which tools and methodologies to use for design, develop and manufacture the modified-release drug forms

There are no prerequisites, but it is strongly recommended to attend the training only after having attended and/or passed the examinations of the courses of the first three years and in particular those of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Technology.

The course will be provided in form of lectures (in classroom or as audiolessons). Occasionally, the students will be asked to answer questions about the treated subjects and to recover supplementary material from AIFA, EMA and FDA websites.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities

Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The examination will be carried out in oral form. To achieve the final vote, the student must demonstrate that he has understood, and he is able to use the fundamental concepts of each topic. The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:
1. knowledge and theoretical understanding and application of the studied subjects;
2. independence of judgment and ability to link the studied arguments;
3. communication skills and appropriateness in the use of technical language;
4. learning ability.

• Pharmacokinetics models: physiologically-based and compartmental-based PK models, kinetics parameters. Dosing and dosing adaptation in children, elderly and uremic patients. Bioavailability and bioequivalence: definitions, “in vitro” and “in vivo” studies.
• Macromolecules as components of pharmaceutical formulations. Generalities and polymers’ classification, polymerization mechanisms and techniques. Natural and synthetic polymers in the pharmaceutical field, modified natural polymers. Polymeric pro-drugs
• Drug delivery systems. Production. Drug release kinetics. Description of the different DDS: injectable systems, subcutaneous implants, intravaginal, intrauterine and intraocular devices, gastro-intestinal delivery systems, transdermal systems.
• Biotechnological therapeutic products: formulation strategies, manufacturing technologies, quality controls

The student should be able to apply their knowledge for the identification and description of the technological and biopharmaceutical properties of advanced pharmaceutical forms, to use the specific language of this very specialized discipline and to evaluate the impact of the properties of the pharmaceutical vehicle on the drug activity