Units / BPS3071

BPS3071 · Nanotechnology and polymer science in drug delivery

Official Handbook

2027 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 3Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Last checked: 30 Sep 2026 UTC Handbook year

Overview

You will be introduced to the principles behind the formulation of nanotechnology and polymer-based drug delivery systems, their characterisation and the way they behave in vitro and in vivo. Diverse organic nanoparticle systems, such as lipid-based formulations, micelles, liposomes, emulsions/suspensions and natural/synthetic polymeric nanoformulations as well as inorganic nanoparticle systems including silica and metal-based nanoparticles will be discussed in the context of drug delivery and diagnostics. You will learn about key tools for the physicochemical characterisation of nanoparticles, and bio-nano interactions. You will also conduct laboratory-based experiments to characterize nanotechnology and polymer-based drug delivery systems and to test your laboratory-based skills.

Offerings

Campus	Teaching period	Mode
Parkville	First semester	Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS)
Malaysia	First semester	Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS)

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

#	Assessment	Type	Weight	Hurdle
1	Laboratory reports, data analysis, and performance	Project	24%	—
2	Workshop submission	Written	18%	—
3	Student engagement and participation: Moodle quizzes or PollEv questions	Exercise	6%	—
4	Mid-semester test	Quiz / Test	12%	—
5	Final assessment	Examination	40%	—

In-semester assessment 60%; final assessment 40%

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

Requisites

prerequisite

BPS1011Human physiology 1: Cells to systems6 cp

AND

BPS1012Human physiology 2: Body systems6 cp

AND

BPS1021Medicinal chemistry 1: Structure6 cp

AND

BPS1022Medicinal chemistry 2: Reactivity and biomolecules6 cp

AND

BPS1031Physical chemistry 1: Equilibria and change6 cp

AND

BPS1032Physical chemistry 2: Solutions, surfaces and solids6 cp

AND

BPS1041Scientific inquiry6 cp

AND

BPS1042Pharmaceutical science in context6 cp

AND

BPS2011Pharmacology 1: Biochemical signalling6 cp

AND

BPS2012Pharmacology 2: Drug action6 cp

AND

BPS2021Synthetic chemistry 1: Structure and reactivity6 cp

AND

BPS2022Drug discovery and design6 cp

AND

BPS2031Analytical methods 1: Principles and applications6 cp

AND

BPS2032Analytical method development6 cp

AND

BPS2041Drug delivery and pharmacokinetics6 cp

AND

BPS2042Drug development6 cp

Learning outcomes

Describe the principles behind the formulation of nanotechnology and polymer-based drug delivery systems;
Appraise different types of nanoparticles with tailored physicochemical properties;
Evaluate interactions between nanoparticles and biological entities, including proteins, cells and organisms;
Critically assess the potential of a given drug delivery system to encapsulate and release drug molecules;
Apply, and conduct in laboratories, the methods of characterisation of nanotech and polymer-based drug delivery systems;
Differentiate modes of imaging nanotechnology-based therapies;
Discuss the role of advanced formulation and nanotechnologies in modern diagnostics.

Workload

• Twelve 1-hour online preparation modules (discovery) • Twenty-four 1-hour online modules • Six 2-hour applied sessions (Q&A) • Six 2-hour workshops • Six 3-hour laboratories • One 2-hour mid-semester test

Activity	Duration
Applied sessions	12 hours
Workshops	12 hours
Assessments	2 hours
Laboratories	18 hours

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