MSc Pharmaceutical & Analytical Science

During the study of this module, you will be introduced to the basics of drug analysis and its main applications. You will consider the challenges associated with the preparation of biological samples for pharmaceutical analysis. You will gain understanding of an array of chemical separations, with an emphasis on gas and liquid chromatography, the main analytical techniques currently exploited in drug development.

This will feed into the detection of chemicals and their characterization via spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques, including mass spectrometry, UV – visible spectroscopy, NMR etc. In parallel, you will develop skills in laboratory maths and statistics to determine whether scientific results are robust, allowing meaningful conclusions to be drawn.

You will acquire the skills necessary to establish meaningful connections between the spectral data and the molecular features of chemical of pharmaceutical interest. This will enable you to collate a number of experimental pieces of information and formulate hypothesis on the molecular structures of chemicals of pharmaceutical interest.

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You will develop a demonstrable understanding of the principles of drug development at the molecular level and the practices currently adopted in industry. You will focus on the historical origins of existing drugs and contemporary methods being used to develop new ones. You will learn to appraise and analyse physical parameters and data on drug candidate molecules. Industry-modelled case studies, individual and group activities will enhance your presentational and organizational skills to achieve competency in workshop preparation and delivery; and in writing scientific research reviews.
Origins and new sources of drugs; natural products and new pharmaceuticals; the drug discovery and development process. Molecular modelling. Stereochemistry: a source of problems in medicinal chemistry. Structure-based drug design; pharmacophore-based drug design; QSAR. Physicochemical properties and drug design: electronic factors, lipophilicity, partition coefficient, steric parameters, prediction of drug-receptor interactions, ligand binding studies. Drug formulation, prodrugs. Computational techniques: analysis of conformational space, molecular graphics and the visualisation of molecules. Molecular diversity. Combinatorial libraries and modern methods of synthesis. Current approaches to the chemotherapeutic treatment of (selected) diseases: cardiovascular disease, inflammation, cancer, viral- and bacterial- infection, diabetes, asthma, cognitive disorders. Patent application procedures and IP maintenance; legislation.

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Current topics in pharmaceutical and drug development research, current hot topics in pharmaceutical research, phases of clinical drug testing, regulation of medicines, formulation and manufacturing processes. Introductory ethics and the history of “ethical” regulation and legal implications of being “unethical”. Exploration of specific topics, e.g. drug testing, when testing goes wrong, the use of animal models in drug development and testing.

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The module is focussed on the chemical principles of drug design of new chemotherapeutic agents in relation to the identification and validation of emerging biological molecular targets. The emphasis is on major classes of life-threatening disease: notably, cancer; viral and resistant bacterial infection. You will learn to evaluate existing and new biological targets and contemporary drug design methods (chemical and biological) to combat these disease states. You will develop the skills required to conduct searching laboratory experiments and to produce written scientific reports to research publication standards. You will benefit from industry-based guest-lecturer input, in support of integrated lectures, tutorials, workshops, molecular modelling activities designed to develop your key skills and confidence necessary to work and progress in the field of drug research. Emphasis on: molecular targets in cancer: characterisation and structure of biological targets (genes; enzymes; receptors; nucleic acids). Design, synthesis and mechanism of action of inhibitors of telomerase, the G-quadruplex, DNA-topoisomerases, matrix metalloproteinases. Targeted therapies, drug delivery mechanisms, design of prodrugs; macromolecular prodrugs and nanoconjugates. Synthetic oligonucleotides, PNAs, DNA-and RNA-binding ligands: design and applications. Synthesis and development of non-nucleoside antiviral agents: HIV integrase inhibitors, protease inhibitors. Peptoids and peptide mimics. Mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired drug resistance and MDR. Contemporary drug design to combat resistant bacterial and protozoal infections. Laboratory work in selected drug synthesis, methods of purification and characterisation; solution and solid- phase combinatorial peptide methodology and biological (including enzyme) assays; molecular graphics.

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This module seeks to develop your understanding of the basis of organic chemistry with a focus on small molecules. After an introduction to the key concepts covering understanding of the reactions of organic compounds, including chemical bonds, valence, molecular orbitals and their interactions, you will become familiar with main functional groups (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alkyl halides, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, amines, carboxylic acids, acyl derivatives along with nucleophiles and electrophiles and how to generate them for use in synthesis) in organic chemistry.

Additionally, the module provides skills to graphically represent these molecules in three dimensions and illustrate their reactions by using pieces of software routinely employed in pharmaceutical research and development. These are acquired through hands-on experience in computer labs. Building upon these concepts, fundamental properties, preparation, chemical reactivity, commercial significance, reactions, and characterisation of the main classes of molecules will be explored, with an emphasis on stoichiometry. The module looks at the transformations of key functional groups in organic chemistry, followed by an introduction to equilibrium, acids and bases, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd laws of thermodynamics.

A part of the module is devoted to tackle reaction mechanisms, introduce aromaticity and the main chemical reactions of benzene and study applications of organic chemistry.
Chemical equilibrium will be unravelled, with an emphasis on dynamic equilibrium, the constants Kc and Kp., basic calculations, extent of reaction, solubility equilibria, pH and the main aspects of thermodynamics.

Practical hands-on laboratory activities are planned to enhance your understanding and awareness of the main classes of reaction e.g., acid-base and redox titrations, assays for identifications of functional groups and chemical classes etc.

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This module enhances your understanding of the structure and function of key macromolecules, including the biological relevance and their role in the development of new therapeutics. You will learn about the role of proteins, peptides, carbohydrates, nucleotides and lipids. You will be exposed to the basic chemistry and reactivity of the main “building blocks” of macromolecules and this will build on your learning from the small molecules module. The structure of these macromolecules with regards to their clinical implications, interaction with biological targets and stability will be discussed. You will also learn about their role in disease and treatment.You will be provided with the skills for graphically representing these molecules using software routinely employed in drug discovery research during tutorials, demonstrations, and activities in PC labs. Tools for predicting secondary structure of the main macromolecules will be presented and demonstrated. You will get hands on experience in the lab with activities specifically designed to explore the different types of molecules to investigate their properties and function.

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This module will build upon the pharmacokinetic principles of ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination) and bioavailability (F) to allow you to appraise how different medicine design affects these parameters.

The way different formulation additives, route of administration and release kinetics (immediate, sustained and targeted release) can impact not only on the pharmacokinetic profile of a drug, but also the doses and the dosing regimen used will be critically evaluated. Factors influencing the rate and extent of drug absorption, which include food-drug interactions, will be explored.

The use of key analytical and bioanalytical techniques to assess drug concentration within the body and its application in therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and dose adjustment will be critically reviewed and contextualized in the contemporary drug development process. You will learn how to interpret different representations of data such as plasma concentration time curves and urinary drug excretion curves.
You will also gain a commercial awareness of medicine manufacture processes (e.g. coatings) and the value of elements such as tablet size, colour and packaging. The biologics market, where medicines are manufactured using recombinant DNA technology, will also be tackled.

In the labs you will learn about experimental design, preformulation tests such as Log P (Partition coefficient) determination and use of instrumental analytical techniques such as UV/VIS assays in preformulation testing. In the labs you will also be required to maintain a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) compliant lab book.

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The aim of this?module?is to provide you with the skills to enable you to engage effectively with the MSc programme, and to develop the professional skills required to support future academic success and prepare you for the world of employment.?You will learn about the requirements of undertaking a programme of study at MSc level and how to engage with this effectively. A range of technologies including MS Teams, WebEX and Moodle will be used to support teaching and communication and enhance your digital literacy skills. To further enhance your digital confidence, you will be expected to use MS office tools to prepare assignments for submission and for analysis of data. Professional values will be taught across a range of subjects with reference to standards and codes of practice such as the academic regulations, code of ethics and academic conduct regulations. Scholarship skills including literature searching, use of referencing, and academic writing will be embedded throughout the module to develop your academic literacy. Key employability skills including time management and reflective practices will be closely linked to assessment preparations and encouraging engagement. A portfolio of evidence will be generated over the course of the module allowing you to evidence your acquisition of skills and the development of your practice.

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The aim of this module is to develop your critical reading and writing skills, and supporting you to review evidence and synthesise complex ideas into a scientifically and professionally written report. This module builds on the skills developed in trimester 1. The module also aims to develop your knowledge of research methodology including understanding aspects of research design, creating proposals, and planning research. You will further develop your analytical, problem solving and time management skills, and there will be an opportunity to develop your peer review and feedback skills in the preparation of your assessments. You will be expected to contribute to class discussions, thus further developing your communication and team working skills, and to reflect on your skills development towards the end of the module.

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You will develop an appreciation and understanding of solid dosage form manufacture carried out in industry and the quality control tests performed before a final dosage form reaches the market. You will gain knowledge of the combination of ingredients that make up pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations (API & Excipients) and the different types of tests, required at different stages in order to comply with the high standards required by regulatory authorities such as the FDA and MHRA.
In the laboratories, you will gain hands-on analytical experience on industry-standard equipment including HPLC and UV instrumentation. You will become familiar with different types of chromatography and learn how to operate, maintain and troubleshoot these techniques. You will learn how to handle and prepare solid dosage forms for analysis by spectrophotometric and chromatographic analytical procedures and you will maintain GLP/GMP compliant lab books.
You will benefit from guest lectures and workshops from industry-based professionals from CMOs (contract manufacturing organisations) and CROs (contract research organisations) which will give you the insight necessary and preparation for work in the pharmaceutical, health, medical devices and food industry.
Formulated drug products (FDPs); Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs); and excipients which make up the formulation, binders, disintegrators, solubilizers, taste masking agents. How choice of excipients determines parameters such as PK (pharmacokinetics) and route of administration of the medicine.

A range of batch release tests conducted by the industry defined by the appropriate Pharmacopeia’s; raw material testing, validation batch testing, assay of active content, degradation and stability studies, dissolution profile testing, uniformity of dosage units and physical characterisation.
Instrumental analytical techniques including UV/Vis spectrophotometry, TLC, HPLC and Mass spectrometry. Theoretical and practical knowledge of different types of chromatography.
Practical HPLC operation for analysis of pharmaceutical samples, maintenance and troubleshooting. Mobile phase preparation, standards and sample preparation and API extraction for analysis. Analysis and quantification of multi-component systems.
Knowledge of ICH guidelines and regulatory standards (such as MHRA) and processes for originator, generic and biopharmaceutical industries.
Maintenance of a GLP compliant lab book and knowledge of GMP.

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The module will include an overview of the research process including hypothesis and research question design and the role of the research literature as evidence to assist in the development of research ideas relevant to practice. You will also learn about analysis and interpretation of data and how to ensure data generated is robust and scientifically valid and will explore aspects related to the importance of research governance and ethics in research design. You will gain practice in scientific writing and have the opportunity to develop a research proposal designed to tackle a specific scientific problem in your field of study. You will learn about some of the tools used in research in the fields of biology and chemistry, and how the research process links across multiple disciplines to solve specific scientific challenges, by gaining an appreciation of how this works in the real world using examples from current research. You will also have an opportunity to develop your skills in the laboratory through hands on practical experience.

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The aim of this module is to develop your scientific communication, data handling and interpretation skills and provide you with the key skills to undertake scientific investigations. There?will be a focus on locating appropriate scientific sources,?developing effective reading strategies, and developing?critical reading and writing skills. The difference?between being descriptive and critical, scientific and reflective writing styles, and how these are used in scientific publications and writing will be considered. Data analysis, including how to organise, manage and present data as well as an introduction to statistical analysis will be taught, enabling you to become familiar with data analysis tools. A key focus will be on the evaluation and synthesis?of scientific concepts from research articles into an oral presentation that will be presented to the class. You will be expected to use and become familiar with MS Office packages including Word, PowerPoint and Excel for the analysis and presentation of your data.

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