James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2022

CH3403 - Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis

Subject Description

This subject builds upon the fundamental concepts of chemistry introduced in the first year subjects CH1001 and CH1002. It deals with the key chemical concepts of medicinal/pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacology, including the mechanisms of drug action and metabolism. The subject also introduces the principles of drug stability and basic mechanisms of drug degradation. The importance of chemical analysis in relation to drug development, drug testing and quality control is examined. Specific topics to be covered include instrumental methods of analysis and structure determination of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API's), particularly titrations, mass spectrometry (MS) and UV spectroscopy (UV-Vis), chromatographic separation techniques (HPLC and GC), thermal analysis methods (DSC and TGA) and Vibrational Spectroscopic techniques (FTIR and Raman spectroscopy). Pharmaceutical case studies are also covered.

Learning Outcomes

• employ medicinal chemistry and pharmacology principles in a biomedical setting
• describe mechanisms of drug metabolism and drug stability relevant to biomedical applications
• utilize spectroscopic techniques used in the quality control of pharmaceuticals or in a clinical setting
• explain polymorphism, the analytical techniques used to differentiate them, and its impact on drug activities
• describe modern purification techniques in pharmaceutical chemistry
• solve pharmaceutical analysis case studies in an industrial or clinical setting
• employ chemical laboratory techniques to synthesise and/or analyse pharmaceuticals and their formulations

Subject Assessment

• Written > Examination (centrally administered) - (55%) - Individual
• Written > Test/Quiz 1 - (20%) - Individual
• Practical assessment/practical skills demonstration:20% Class participation: 5% - (25%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Assumed Knowledge:  First year Chemistry

Inadmissible Subject Combinations:  PC2002, PC2203, CH2043

Availabilities