MSci (Hons) Pharmaceutical Sciences (with a Year in Industry) Integrated Master's degree at the University of Nottingham

This module introduces the fundamental principles of biopharmaceutics, how physicochemical properties, dosage-form design and physiological barriers influence drug absorption and bioavailability. You will study: principles of aqueous and non-aqueous dispersed systems, suspensions and emulsions formulation effects following major routes of drug administration physiological barriers to absorption and mechanisms of drug transport basic concepts of pharmacokinetics, absorption, distribution, metab

This module covers: drug structure and bonding valency, orbitals, electronic configurations and bond types conjugation, aromaticity, resonance and their relevance to acid/base chemistry nomenclature, functional groups stereochemistry an introduction to spectroscopy. This module introduces the basic concepts of molecular structure that underlie the physicochemical properties of drugs and their interactions with pharmacological binding partners. You will learn how to draw the chemical structures o

This module considers: an introduction to the human endocrine system and the body's metabolic processes hormonal control of metabolism an introduction to common endocrine and metabolic diseases and their treatments the fate of drugs within the body – specifically metabolism and the role of solute transporters in absorption and excretion. You will study human endocrinology and metabolism - processes essential for normal growth and survival. The effects of malnutrition and hormonal imbalance on he

This module introduces concepts of reactivity, which are rationalised in the context of the basic reactions that are used to form the bonds in organic molecules. You will acquire a mechanistic understanding of the reactions that are used to form carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds in simple functionalised aromatic and aliphatic drug molecules. This module covers: basic concepts of reactivity, including collisions, valence electrons, electronegativity, charge, acid-base chemistry, orbital t

This module covers: a foundation on the principles that underlie the processing and manufacture of solid dosage forms an understanding of the material science and physical chemistry of pharmaceutical powders formulation and production of solid dosage forms (tablets and inhalation formulations). The action and stability of drugs is influenced by the physical, chemical and biological properties of the components used in the formulation of medicines. By using tablets as an example of solid dosage f

This module considers: biochemical foundations and the molecules of life genetic foundations and the flow of genetic information cellular foundations an introduction to physiology with a focus on the cardiovascular system and haematology the principles of drug action; receptor-drug interactions. Using examples mainly derived from cardiovascular disease and haematology, you will be introduced to the molecules of life, cellular structure and the components of cells including lipids, carbohydrates,

This module explores how formulation design and materials engineering can be used to control drug distribution and therapeutic performance. You will study: novel materials for pharmaceutical formulations, including polymers and nanomaterials bioelectronic and responsive delivery systems controlled-release and long-acting injectable formulations physiological and cellular barriers influencing absorption and distribution drug-targeting approaches such as polymer–drug conjugates, antibody–drug conj

This module considers: key concepts in modern drug discovery, including foundations and terminology molecular recognition; structure-activity relationships (SARs) structure- and ligand-based design ADME/DMPK and physicochemical optimisation computational and biophysical methods used in drug design. The module employs case-study-led learning: the application of the above methods to real drug classes and targets to illustrate alternative routes to successful (and unsuccessful) design.

This module provides: an introduction in microbiology, covering bacteria and viruses how microbial contamination during pharmaceuticals manufacture is controlled, including information on quality and sterility assurance, sterilisation techniques and sterility testing within the pharmaceutical industry antibiotics and non-antibiotic antimicrobials and their use an introduction to the cells, molecules and diseases of the human immune system an introduction to recombinant DNA technology and prokary

This module provides: an introduction to signal transduction networks using examples related to oncology an introduction to the process of cell division an introduction to the Hallmarks of Cancer an introduction to the roles of oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and genes involved in eukaryotic gene regulation, DNA replication, recombination and repair pharmacology of cytotoxic and molecularly targeted chemotherapy an introduction to nanoformulations and biopharmaceuticals such as monoclonal ant

This module introduces the science and technology underpinning biotechnology-derived medicines ("biologics"). You will study: manufacture of biotechnology products, from cell culture and purification to formulation protein and nucleic-acid therapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies and RNA technologies physicochemical properties influencing biological drug stability and degradation chemical and physical modification strategies (e.g. PEGylation, antibody drug conjugates) formulation and delive

This module considers: strategies for total and semi-chemical synthesis aromatic, heterocyclic, macrocyclic, peptide and oligonucleotide drugs with increasing structural complexity the synthesis of diverse chemical analogues for structure-activity relationship assessments. You will learn about further synthetic methodology that is used to prepare drug molecules with increasing structural complexity. You will gain an understanding of how structurally and functionally complex drug molecules can be

This module covers: advances in protein and antibody technologies new biological entities, including RNA and cell-based therapeutics advances in gene therapy, including genome-editing techniques formulation of biological products laboratory techniques for aseptic manufacture of biological products and sterility and stability testing of biological products industry and patient views of biological products

This module provides: an opportunity to undertake an original research study first-hand research experience and insights into scientific methodology, through the undertaking of a review of published work and experimental and/or computer-based work to investigate a selected topic the opportunity to use state-of-the-art instrumentation available in the School of Pharmacy

This module covers: an overview of the pharmaceutical industry and the process of discovery and development of pharmaceutical products principles relevant to manufacturing methods and quality assurance processes pharmaceutical regulations and guidelines, including quality-by-design principles relevant to manufacturing, including sustainability and life-cycle assessment formulation and development of biopharmaceutical products development of standard operating procedures in the laboratory

This module explores advanced methods and concepts in pharmaceutical science, including advanced analytical techniques, analysis of large data sets and computational approaches. Through laboratory-based sessions, you will develop practical skills in analytical science, including safe handling of instruments and accurate data interpretation. A component of the module requires you to independently investigate a topic at the forefront of pharmaceutical science based on the scientific literature. Th