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SL12011: Fundamentals of pharmacology: the science of medicines

[Page last updated: 26 October 2023]

Academic Year: 2023/24
Owning Department/School: Department of Life Sciences
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: EXCB 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Examination (EXCB 30%)
  • Semester 2 examination (EXCB 70%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit, you will be able to: 1. Demonstrate an understanding of what constitutes a medicine, requirements for different dosage forms for different routes of delivery. 2. Describe how the physicochemical properties of molecules and factors such as chemical kinetics and pH affect the properties of medicines and their constituent components. 3. Demonstrate an understanding of the factors which influence the release of a drug from its dosage form and its subsequent absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination from the body. 4. Demonstrate how the fate and concentration of drugs in the body can be modelled and predicted using basic pharmacokinetic models.


Synopsis: Explore the concept of medicines and the science underpinning their design. You'll learn how a drug is combined with other molecules to generate a dosage form and how physical, chemical, and physiological properties affect drug release and absorption following administration via different routes. Learn how pharmacokinetics is used to understand and model drug distribution, metabolism, and excretion, ensuring the right drug is delivered to the right place at the right dose and at the right rate.

Content: The concept of medicines and dosage forms. Acid-base theory, pH and pKa, and its relevance to medicines design. Buffers and the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. Chemical kinetics and its impact on the stability of dosage forms. Bioavailability Drug solubility and dissolution rate, immediate- and sustained release forms, and the Noyes-Whitney equation. Diffusion and partitioning in biological membranes. Absorption - overview of absorption via different routes and the effect of physiology. Drug delivery to the GI tract - formulation and physiological requirements, drug absorption through different GI routes and the effects of physiology on enteral absorption. Drug distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Pharmacokinetics - IV bolus, IV infusion, extravascular administration.

Course availability:

SL12011 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Life Sciences
  • USSL-AFB13 : BSc(Hons) Pharmacology (Year 1)
  • USSL-AKB13 : BSc(Hons) Pharmacology with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USSL-AKM13 : MPharmacol(Hons) Pharmacology with professional placement (Year 1)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.