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Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title Medicinal Chemistry
Module Code CS311
School School of Chemical Sciences
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Andrew Kellett
Semester 2: Andrew Kellett
Autumn: Andrew Kellett
Module TeachersKieran Nolan
Andrew Kellett
Emma Coyle
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
Repeat examination
Array
Description

To introduce students to drug action. To introduce students to the basic concepts of drug design and what physicochemical properties of a molecule are important in therapeutic action. To introduce students to empirical methods which are used in drug design and invention. To introduce students to the important principles of drug delivery and what biological factors affect these processes. To introduce students to elementary pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism

Learning Outcomes

1. Recognise the importance of understanding the biological nature of a disease in order to develop effective drug treatments.
2. Use both structure activity relationships and quantitative structure activity relationships to develop new drug candidates.
3. Value the importance of bioavailability in the discovery of new drug candidates.
4. Use modern synthetic methods and strategies to create libraries of molecules for drug screening.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture36No Description
Directed learning24Practice of sample questions
Independent Study65No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction
Review of Drug action, classification, sources and development and production.Drug Design: Conformation, stereochemistry, configuration.Structure-activity Relationships (SAR/QSAR) - Shape and size, substituents, partition coefficients, Hammett constants, Taft steric parameters, Methods based on Hansch and related approaches.Empirical Drug Design : Search for Lead Compounds; Natural Sources/Serendipity; Systematic Search; Combinatorial Libraries. Chemical Aspects of Drug Delivery: An integral part of drug action/design. Solubilities, pKa's and pH will be discussed and it's effect on drug design.Biological Membranes and Enzymes: Impact on drug design. Distribution, Elementary Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism: Use in drug design. Specific examples of drugs will be used.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

    Other Resources

    None
    Programme or List of Programmes
    ACBSc in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sc.
    AIChemistry with Artificial Intelligence
    BSSAStudy Abroad (DCU Business School)
    BSSAOStudy Abroad (DCU Business School)
    HMSAStudy Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)
    HMSAOStudy Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)
    IESAStudy Abroad (Institute of Education)
    IESAOStudy Abroad (Institute of Education)
    SHSAStudy Abroad (Science & Health)
    SHSAOStudy Abroad (Science & Health)
    SMPSCSingle Module Prof. Science and Health
    Date of Last Revision17-JUN-08
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