6A006E - Physicochemical Characteristics for Medicine Development 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 | Version 1
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | 6A006E | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Physicochemical Characteristics for Medicine Development | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science | ||
| Faculty Group: | Biological and Forensic Sciences | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Biological Sciences | ||
| Module Leader: | Andrew Graham | ||
| Module Team: | Suzanna Kean, Natasha Galea, Peter Miedziak | ||
| First Intended Intake: | Final Year of Intake: | ||
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 20 | Credit Level: | 6 |
| Language: | |||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | 100420 - medicinal chemistry | 100423 - pharmaceutical chemistry | |
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 50 | 50 | |
Document Version Information
| Version | 1 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2026 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2029 |
Module Aims
Review the basics of formulation in relation to API delivery by common routes
Highlight the importance of specific physical properties of APIs and how they determine formulation requirements in relation to drug adsorption and distribution.
Introduce the fundamental science behind disperse systems and how they are important in the formulation of APIs for topical routes of drug delivery.
Provide an understanding of the mechanisms and rates of API degradation and how these can be minimised.
Outline how physical properties of APIs determine the formulation and manufacture of new medicines
Content Summary
Topics covering will include, but are not limited to:-
Formulation: Review of simple drug delivery and formulation systems
States of Matter: Review of typical properties of solids, liquids, and gases.
Preformulation Studies: Review of physical properties and molecular structure and how they determine solubility characteristics of solids including crystallinity, polymorphism, particle size and shape and how these properties determine API solubility and formulation. Noyes-Whitney equation.
Solubility and Distribution Phenomena: Principles of passive drug transport and how these are dependent on drug solubility and structure, distribution coefficients (lipophilicity), and dissolution rates. Lipinsky and the rule of 5.
Interfacial Phenomena: Surface tension, adsorption, wetting, and surfactants, critical for formulating emulsions and suspensions. Factors affecting interfacial phenomena.
Rheology: The study of flow properties of liquids, creams, and gels. Diffusion and Brownian motion.
Colloidal Dispersions & Suspensions: Properties of dispersed systems and their formulation as topical medicines. Properties of polymers and hydrogels in formulation and drug delivery. Factors affecting caking and sedimentation. Repulsive and attractive forces.
Chemical Kinetics & Drug Degradation: A review of simple chemical kinetics and the derivation of half-life equations under different rate orders. Role of kinetics in API degradation pathways (hydrolysis, photolysis and oxidation) methods for the retardation of degradation and models for the prediction of medicine shelf-life.
Micromeritics: Science of small particles, including particle size, size distribution, and flow characteristics including bulk volume, true density, porosity, and flow properties, impacting on how powders behave during API manufacturing.
Modern drug delivery systems: Extended release and targeted release. Nanostructured delivery systems such as porous silicates, dendrimers and liposomes. Delivery systems fro complex proteins in regenerative medicine.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Practical Classes and Workshops | 36 |
| Independent Study | 86 |
| Directed Study (including online independent learning) | 72 |
| Formative assessment - independent | 2 |
| Problem/Challenge based learning | 12 |
| Total Hours Selected | 208 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | To provide an understanding of the factors important in the effective formulation of new chemical entities to develop effective medicines. |
| LO2 | To provide an understanding of how the physical properties of the API can be manipulated to enhance critical factors in formulation and provide more effective medicines. |
Module Requisites
| Code | Title | Requisite Type |
|---|---|---|
| MOD014132 | Structure and Function of Biological Macromolecules | pre-requisite |
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Practical Coursework 1 (Asynch) | A series of guided assessments demonstrating the application of practical skills, problem solving, data analysis, and interpretation | 0 | 1500 | 40 | No | 40 |
| Asynchronous Assessment | Report 1 | Written assignment allowing demonstration of the taught theory of the module. | 0 | 2500 | 60 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Practical Coursework 1 (Asynch) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Report 1 | ✔ | ✔ | |