BPS2041 · Drug delivery and pharmacokinetics

Overview

Choosing a suitable route of administration and dosage form for an active pharmaceutical ingredient is a critical step in drug development. It requires consideration of the physiological and physicochemical processes that govern the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of a drug, but other factors, such as patient compliance, also need to be taken into account. This unit will equip you with the fundamental knowledge and tools to evaluate different routes of drug administration on the basis of the underlying physiological and physicochemical principles. In particular, this will entail: • An introduction to the processes involved in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion following oral, parenteral and other routes of administration. • Mathematical approaches to describe and evaluate drug concentration time profiles and bioavailability (pharmacokinetics). • Case studies in assessing the suitability of different drug formulation options.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Final assessment (40% ) and in-semester assessment (60%)

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Discuss the physiological and physicochemical factors affecting drug absorption across the small intestine, via selected alternative pathways and via parenteral drug delivery;
2. Define and calculate pharmacokinetic parameters, predict drug concentrations in plasma and estimate bioavailability.
3. Discuss the factors affecting drug metabolism and excretion and their impact on drug concentration time profiles.
4. Suggest and evaluate formulation approaches for drugs based on their physicochemical properties, physiological factors and medical considerations.
5. Analyse and interpret quantitative data using scientific software packages.

Workload

• Twelve 1-hour online preparation modules (discovery) • Twenty-four 1-hour online modules • Four 2-hour applied classes • Twelve 3-hour workshops • Two hours of scheduled assessment

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.