ID:
510600
Duration (hours):
80
CFU:
9
SSD:
CHIMICA FARMACEUTICA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Primo Semestre (29/09/2025 - 23/01/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The learning objectives of this course contribute to the development of the professional skills required in the pharmaceutical field.
The main objective of the course is to provide the student with chemical-pharmaceutical knowledge for understanding the role of the structural properties of drugs in determining their activity, stability, druggability and toxicity. The structure-activity relationship as well as the mechanism of action will be studied, particularly focusing on drugs acting on central and peripherical nervous systems, cardiovascular, gastroenteric, respiratory and urinary systems, as well as analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs
At the end of the course Students have to: i) know and understand the fundamental principles of medicinal and toxicological chemistry, ii) understand how the structural properties of drugs influence their biological activity, chemical and physical stability, bioavailability manipulability, and toxicity in different biological systems, and iii) be able to present the structure-activity relationships, mechanisms of action and therapeutical applications of the main drug classes synthetically, critically and effectively, by using the appropriate terminology of the medicinal chemistry field.
The main objective of the course is to provide the student with chemical-pharmaceutical knowledge for understanding the role of the structural properties of drugs in determining their activity, stability, druggability and toxicity. The structure-activity relationship as well as the mechanism of action will be studied, particularly focusing on drugs acting on central and peripherical nervous systems, cardiovascular, gastroenteric, respiratory and urinary systems, as well as analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs
At the end of the course Students have to: i) know and understand the fundamental principles of medicinal and toxicological chemistry, ii) understand how the structural properties of drugs influence their biological activity, chemical and physical stability, bioavailability manipulability, and toxicity in different biological systems, and iii) be able to present the structure-activity relationships, mechanisms of action and therapeutical applications of the main drug classes synthetically, critically and effectively, by using the appropriate terminology of the medicinal chemistry field.
Course Prerequisites
To successfully attend the course of Medicinal and Toxicological Chemistry 1, it is essential that students possess solid basic and advanced knowledge in general, inorganic, and organic chemistry, as well as a good knowledge of fundamental biochemical concepts. Specifically, students must be able to understand and apply the principles of organic chemistry related to the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds, with particular attention to the main functional groups, their stability, and reactivity. An in-depth understanding of biochemical processes and the interactions between drugs and biological targets is crucial, as it provides the necessary context for exploring the aspects covered in the course.
Teaching Methods
The Medicinal and Toxicological Chemistry 1 course employs a variety of integrated teaching methods to achieve the learning objectives and ensure that students acquire the necessary competencies.
Frontal lessons (PowerPoint presentations) that will be available for students on Kiro UniPV multimedia platform. Arial 12, double spacing will be used for slides preparation.
Seminars/classroom practices focused on case studies (i.e. scientific paper reading and discussion). The students will be required to work in small groups and to present their homework in the classroom for the discussion (activity performed according to health regulations).
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 necessary, self-learning can be supported by tutoring or supplementary teaching activities (i.e. dedicated meetings that could also be online) with time flexibility depending on needs.
Tutorial is part of the teaching activity and includes classroom tutorial to address the in itinerary tests as well as the final examination. Tutorial could also be performed on-line using the Kiro UniPV multimedia platform.
Frontal lessons (PowerPoint presentations) that will be available for students on Kiro UniPV multimedia platform. Arial 12, double spacing will be used for slides preparation.
Seminars/classroom practices focused on case studies (i.e. scientific paper reading and discussion). The students will be required to work in small groups and to present their homework in the classroom for the discussion (activity performed according to health regulations).
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 necessary, self-learning can be supported by tutoring or supplementary teaching activities (i.e. dedicated meetings that could also be online) with time flexibility depending on needs.
Tutorial is part of the teaching activity and includes classroom tutorial to address the in itinerary tests as well as the final examination. Tutorial could also be performed on-line using the Kiro UniPV multimedia platform.
Assessment Methods
The assessment methods for the Medicinal and Toxicological Chemistry 1 course are designed to align with the learning objectives and ensure a comprehensive and accurate evaluation of the competencies acquired by students (knowledge of the topics covered during the course, understanding of the role of structural properties of drugs in determining their activity, stability, manipulability and toxicity, and capability to synthetically and critically present the structure-activity relationships, mechanisms of action and therapeutical applications of the main drug classes).
Student performance is assessed by "in itinere tests" (two tests) or in the final examination. They both will consist in a written test (1 hour test) with multiple choice questions or true/false questions (from 3 to 5 questions, score 1 point each) and short answer questions in which Students have to draw or recognize the chemical structure of a drug class an briefly describe the mechanism of action, the structure-activity relationships and the main therapeutical applications (from 5 to 7 questions, score from 3 to 6 points each, depending on the level of difficulty).
Students have to demonstrate to:
i) know the topics covered during the course and have understood the fundamental principles of medicinal and toxicological chemistry, ii) be able to recognize the drug chemical features essential for biological properties and have understood how the structural properties of drugs influence their biological activity, chemical and physical stability, bioavailability, manipulability and toxicity, and iii) be able to present synthetically, critically and effectively structures, structure-activity relationships, mechanism of action and therapeutic applications of the main drug classes described during the course, using the appropriate terminology of the medicinal chemistry field.
Test evaluation will be performed by the 0-30 scale. In the case of "in itinere tests" the final mark will be the mean of those obtained in the tests. The results of the written tests will be announced through the esse3 platform, through which students can communicate their intention to accept or reject the grade. In the absence of explicit feedback from the student, the rule of implied acceptance applies. Tests are however available to students.
Appropriate examination methods are provided for students who fall into the categories of Specific Learning Disorders and Special Educational Needs
Student performance is assessed by "in itinere tests" (two tests) or in the final examination. They both will consist in a written test (1 hour test) with multiple choice questions or true/false questions (from 3 to 5 questions, score 1 point each) and short answer questions in which Students have to draw or recognize the chemical structure of a drug class an briefly describe the mechanism of action, the structure-activity relationships and the main therapeutical applications (from 5 to 7 questions, score from 3 to 6 points each, depending on the level of difficulty).
Students have to demonstrate to:
i) know the topics covered during the course and have understood the fundamental principles of medicinal and toxicological chemistry, ii) be able to recognize the drug chemical features essential for biological properties and have understood how the structural properties of drugs influence their biological activity, chemical and physical stability, bioavailability, manipulability and toxicity, and iii) be able to present synthetically, critically and effectively structures, structure-activity relationships, mechanism of action and therapeutic applications of the main drug classes described during the course, using the appropriate terminology of the medicinal chemistry field.
Test evaluation will be performed by the 0-30 scale. In the case of "in itinere tests" the final mark will be the mean of those obtained in the tests. The results of the written tests will be announced through the esse3 platform, through which students can communicate their intention to accept or reject the grade. In the absence of explicit feedback from the student, the rule of implied acceptance applies. Tests are however available to students.
Appropriate examination methods are provided for students who fall into the categories of Specific Learning Disorders and Special Educational Needs
Texts
Study texts furnished by the teacher are available on Kiro platform (https://elearning.unipv.it/). Gasco-Gualtieri-Melchiorre “Chimica Farmaceutica – seconda edizione”, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2020. Roche, Zito, Lemke & Williams “Foye’s Principi di Chimica Farmaceutica” - Settima Ed Italiana, 2021, Piccin. Patrick GL “Chimica farmaceutica” - Terza Edizione, EdiSES. Costantino-Sbardella, Chimica Farmaceutica - Prima Edizione, EdiSES.
Contents
Principles of general medicinal chemistry: classification of targets and main mechanisms of action, metabolism, and physicochemical properties of drugs Drugs active on cholinergic and adrenergic neurotransmission, as well as on histaminergic receptors. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids. Drugs for the treatment of dyslipidemia DRUGS ACTIVE ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: Hypnotic, tranquilizers, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, antidepressants, opioid analgesics, local anesthetics, drugs used for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. DRUGS ACTIVE ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS: Antianginal, antiarrhythmic, antihypertensive, diuretics, anticoagulants, , antiasthma, mucolytics, antitussives. DRUGS ACTIVE ON THE GASTROENTERIC SYSTEM: anti-ulcer drugs; antidiarrheals, antiemetics.
Course Language
Italian
Degrees
Degrees
MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY
Single-cycle Master’s Degree
5 years
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