The objective of the course is to provide the theoretical and practical bases of principal preclinical pharmacological methods.
Metodi didattici
Classroom exercises and practical laboratories. For students with specific needs, who cannot attend teaching activities in person and who have applied for Inclusive Teaching Modality, adequate teaching material will be available for fruitful independent study. If requested, self-learning can be supported by tutoring or supplementary teaching activities, and by dedicated meetings, including online, with time flexibility depending on needs.
Verifica Apprendimento
Intermediate test : Not applicable
To pass the final exam, the student will have to take an oral exam, consisting of a broader general question and a more detailed question regarding the topics covered (exercise and laboratory). The student must demonstrate that the student has understood the tests and methods and must be able to describe in detail the steps of the protocols used in the laboratory, bringing the completed laboratory notebook during the exercises. The objective is to verify that the student has acquired the ability to know the basics of the methods analyzed and to have the ability to describe the steps and analyze the data obtained.
Testi
The study material for the course is constituted by the slides of the lectures provided by the lecturer and the literature material discussed during the course.
Contenuti
The course aims to provide the theoretical basis of the main methods used in the pharmacological field to evaluate the effectiveness of a drug. Basics of cell cultures, the transition of cells into adhesion and suspension and materials and tools used. Basics of microscopy and sterility. Cell counting assays. Methods of cell plating, drug treatment and cell viability assay. Theoretical basis on methods for quantifying proteins in lysates and homogenates. Theoretical and applied bases of immunocytochemistry. Laboratory notebook concept. Practical laboratory; generating a calibration curve for a protein quantification method and determining the concentration in an unknown sample and analyzing the results. Visualization of cells under inverted microscope, passage of cells, cell counting, plating of cells, drug treatment and cell viability assay. Counter-collection of cell nuclei for immunocytochemistry and visualization under a fluorescence microscope.
