Pharmaceutical Chemistry MSci

In this module you'll have the opportunity to consolidate the interpretative skills learnt in the module Analytical Science 1 and extend these to the analysis of spectra from more complex organic molecules. The majority of samples encountered in analytical science are mixtures, you'll be introduced to the basics of the most widely used forms of chromatography and a number of application areas of each will be described including the application of combined separation and spectroscopic techniques. Additionally you'll be introduced to a selection of instrumental analyses including atomic spectroscopy, thermal methods and electrochemical techniques, and statistical methodology which provide solutions to many of the analytical problems which are encountered in modern society. This module aims to develop your abilities in these directions to enable you to design an analytical process whilst further developing your IT, communication and numerical skills.

This module builds on the pharmaceutics provided in the first year module Pharmaceutics 1. You’ll be introduced to the pharmaceutical dosage form, design of tablets and capsules, and have the opportunity to gain an understanding of biopharmaceutics together with an appreciation of bioequivalence, which supports the choice of medicines. The module will also introduce you to the basics of pharmaceutical industrial practice, for example, pre-formulation issues and unit processes and controls, the application and theory of GMP including standard operating procedures (SOPs).

​This module will extend and develop your understanding and knowledge of cell biology with a particular focus on how cells communicate and the importance of this for multicellularity. Key themes include regulation of the passage of molecules across the cell membrane, intracellular and cell surface receptors, signal transduction pathways and second messengers. The role of the cytoskeleton, the extracellular matrix and selective cell adhesion in formation of tissues are also considered. You will gain an understanding of different techniques that are used to study cell biology. The practical component of this module will help you to develop your laboratory practical skills and ability to analyse and present acquired data.

The aims of this module are to introduce you to a range of pathogens responsible for major and emerging infectious diseases globally. To outline how pathogen biology not only influences pathology and transmission of disease, but is also the target for therapeutic intervention. We'll provide you with an overview of the drug discovery pipeline and other factors involved in the control of infectious diseases. This module also covers the mechanisms of action of existing and potential new therapies and discusses the significance of infectious diseases in the context of 21st century life. It also introduces the emerging importance of the commensal microflora and the concept of dysbiosis in the aetiology of a range of pathologies. The bases of pathogenicity and virulence for a range of bacterial, eukaryotic and viral pathogens will be addressed alongside discussion of current and prospective treatments for the diseases caused by these micro-organisms. The emerging importance of commensal microflora and the concept of dysbiosis in the aetiology of a range of human pathologies and antibiotic/drug-resistance are also important themes in this medical microbiology-themed module. Infectious diseases significant in a UK context and more widely in a global context will both be addressed. Lectures and assessment will cover bacterial, viral, and eukaryotic pathogens, which are the aetiological agents of human disease in tropical and temperate countries. Lecture content will include discussion of leading causes of mortality globally: e.g. cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV-AIDS. Threats posed by antibiotic resistance, challenges and opportunities associated with new medicine development, and the significance of emerging diseases against a backdrop of climate change will all be addressed.

The module builds on the basic physiology that was studied in the first year. The organisation and regulatory roles of the nervous system are considered and their interaction investigated. The central nervous system (CNS) will be investigated and the functions associated with its anatomical regions. Interactions such as sensory and motor integration, sleep-wake cycles and higher mental functions (consciousness and memory) will also be introduced. Endocrine physiology and hormonal control will also be considered with integration of activities of the nervous and endocrine systems.

You'll carry out a substantial research project, under supervision, in an industrial or academic research environment, during the course of Year 3 of the MChem/MSci integrated Master’s degrees. The subject of the research may be any relevant and topical area of chemistry, forensic or pharmaceutical science, but must be agreed in advance between you, your project supervisor and the University course or module leader.

This module is designed for those students who are in Year 3 of an Integrated MChem or MSci. Part of this module is specific to the organisation in which you'll be working and involves you carrying out a review of the organisation and a review of the sector that the organisation operates in (e.g. the pharmaceutical industry, analytical service providers or the higher education sector). Alongside this, you'll have the opportunity to carry out a series of assignments designed to improve your wider understanding of certain aspects of science-based businesses such as green chemistry/environmental issues, project planning and marketing.

This module will discuss the common (non-metabolic) degradation courses of biologically active pharmaceutical molecules. These processes are degradation by hydrolysis, oxidation and photolysis. Solid state degradations of formulated medicines will also be considered.

This module is taken by students during Year 3 of an integrated Masters' degree and covers three aspects of communication of importance in science; the ability to read and understand scientific journal papers, the ability to write a scientific journal paper and the ability to give oral presentations.

This module draws together the basic concepts of synthesis and reaction mechanisms in the context of providing methods for designing suitable synthetic routes to target compounds and also extends the range of reaction types to include pericyclic reactions. The module also introduces contemporary preparative methods for the synthesis of organic compounds. Further aspects relating to designing a synthesis and the connection between design and retrosynthetic principles are covered. The selectivity of reactions and the concepts of regio-, chemo-, stereo- and enantioselectivity are developed and expanded as are the rules governing pericyclic reactions. The reaction mechanism component draws together concepts in both physical and mechanistic organic chemistry; this section of the course covers those techniques that can be used to differentiate between mechanistic types. The use of product analysis, activation parameters, linear free energy relationships and isotope effects to determine reaction mechanisms are included.

In this module you'll be provided with an overview of contemporary spectroscopic techniques and their relevant areas of application. In mass spectrometry you'll be introduced to the range of ionisation and scanning techniques and the ways in which the coupling of chromatographic methods with mass spectrometry can enhance and extend the capabilities of both methods. In nuclear magnetic resonance you'll consider a range of advanced experimental methods to enhance the quality of the analytical information which can be obtained. Modern electroanalysis is a powerful and versatile analytical tool for investigating a wide range of analytical problems. This module will introduce you to a selection of these methods and will illustrate the practicalities, uses and limitations of these techniques. Sensor technologies represent a rapidly expanding area of analytical science. The module aims to familiarise you with the wide range of fields, which contribute to sensor developments and then to reinforce this knowledge with pertinent examples such as glucose monitoring systems for diabetics.

In this module the basic description of separation science provided earlier in the course will be expanded and extended. Recent developments in the subject will be discussed in terms of basic chromatographic theory. The application of separation methods to the identification and quantification of drugs and their metabolites in toxicological samples will be discussed. The metabolism of drugs, in so far as this process impinges upon the analytical methodology employed in toxicological analysis, together with the effects of sample type and their storage will be highlighted.

The aim of this module is to extend the knowledge of use of drugs from years 1 and 2 to the management of disorders in the CNS and Cancer. CNS topics will include depression, psychosis and anxiety, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. Other topics will include pain and the use of opioid analgesics, CNS stimulants, psychotomimetics and the physiological basis of drug dependence and drug abuse. The mechanisms of general and local anaesthesia with reference to the CNS and the peripheral nervous system will be covered. Pharmacology of drugs in cancer treatment will be covered. Further lectures on applied pharmacokinetics will complement the kinetic lectures covered in years 1 and 2. This is in addition to including drug-drug interaction.