Course Overview

> This course focuses on the drug discovery process, with emphasis on
the in-silico design, natural products-inspired drugs, and
pharmaceutical formulation. 

> The students will be acquainted with the various demands for a
molecule to become a drug and understand the interaction between a
drug and its target at the molecular level. The NPs module will focus
on biodiversity, green chemistry extractions, analytical control
applied to NPs as well as traditional medicine and bio-guided
fractionation. 

> During this course, the students will also become familiar with the
basic principles of biopharmacy and will understand the impact of drug
dosage forms and pharmaceutical technology on drug release and effect.

Learning Achievement

Competence

Course prerequisites

> Scientific background: The attending students should have followed
the introductory courses in chemistry and biology at the university
level. 

> Language: The course will be held in English; a minimum certifiable
equivalent of TOEFL score of 550/213/79-80 or IELTS score of 6.0 is
required

> IT skills: average Windows OS / MsOffice skills are required to
successfully fulfil the computer training sessions and prepare your
project presentation 

> Laboratory skills: basic experimental skills, specific for the basic
organic chemistry practical sessions (3nd year Pharmacy level)     

Grading Philosophy

> Summative and interactive assessment:

- Quizzes (7) - project presentations (2) - computer training
evaluation (30) - poster presentation (1) - laboratory report (1)

Course schedule

The course content includes (but is not limited to) the topics as
follows:

> Drug Design: 

- molecular similarity - molecular energies and conformations -
structure-activity relationships - drug-target interactions -
pharmacophore-based design - molecular docking 

> Pharmaceutical technology:

- Biopharmacy and routes of administration - Pharmaceutical
operations - Drug dosage forms

> Natural products:

- Nature-inspired drug discovery - Introduction to phytotherapy -
Production and standardization of natural products (NPs) - Modern
extraction techniques of NPs - Natural Products Chemistry Laboratory
- Analysis of counterfeit natural products

Course type

- Lectures (24h) - Computer training (10h) - Experimental laboratory sessions (21h) - Tutorials (8h) 

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Other information

> Maximum number of students: 14

> Selection procedure (Master program): interview 

> Feedback on the course content at the end of each module is highly
recommended to further improve the overall content of this course.



Language of instruction: English
Mode of delivery: Face-to-face teaching; computer-sessions

Site for Inquiry