Course overview
The aim of this course is to provide an understanding of the formulation of solution dosage forms and how structure and reactivity relates to solubility, dissolution and the stability of drugs and drug products. Overview of the types of pharmaceutical products and their physical forms, how they are presented and administered, shelf-life and storage; Solution dosage forms, solubility and the process of dissolution; techniques for increasing solubility and the rate of solution; Physicochemical drug interactions and incompatibilities; Basic colligative properties and osmolarity; Electronic and structural features that influence acidity and basicity of drug molecules; buffers and ampholytes; Ionization, aqueous solubility and biological partitioning of drugs which are weak electrolytes; Structure and properties of heterocyclic drugs; Principles of quality control; Methods for the analysis of drugs; Pharmaceutical calculations.
Course learning outcomes
- Formulate and compound solution dosage forms and design suitable control tests for maintaining their quality
- Explain that drugs and drug products have a limited shelf-life, which is influenced by the chemical structures of drugs and excipients
- Design and explain analytical methods for specific drugs when formulated as drug products
- Perform pharmaceutical calculations
- Demonstrate the integration of knowledge of the chemical properties of drugs and excipients in the batch and extemporaneous compounding of solution dosage forms with the required documentation
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