CHEM 390 : Medicinal Chemistry
Science
2022 Semester One (1223) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Want to be at the forefront of designing and discovering new compounds that are suitable for use as new drugs? Want to learn about how a substance operates in the body and its suitability for use as a drug? Medicinal chemistry is for you. It is one of the most rapidly developing areas within the disciplines of pharmaceutical science and chemistry and connects synthetic chemistry, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. As a medicinal chemistry student, you will learn the art of drug discovery and development which will lead to employment in a wide range of institutions such as biomedical and pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, local and national government agencies, private research institutions and Crown Research Institutes.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the basic principles of peptide synthesis, be able to write the structure of a peptide from constituent amino acids and describe how antimicrobial peptides function. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Apply the principles of molecular recognition and intermolecular bonding interactions, to the development of enzyme inhibitors and receptor agonists and antagonists as drugs. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Describe the mechanism of action and structure-activity-relationship of classic molecules like Penicillin, Morphine, Cisplatin, antigene and antisense oligonucleotides etc. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)
- Apply the "profit: need : threat" rationale for the drug discovery process using examples, describe How Lipinski’s 'rule of five' can be used to determine 'drug-like molecules’ and Explain why halogens are often incorporated into pharmaceuticals, using examples. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Apply the principles of combinatorial chemistry solid-phase organic synthesis (SPOS) in the drug discovery process to generating new drug leads. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Apply the principles and ideas are behind QSAR studies, explain the concept of prodrugs, explain the importance of the molecular shape and flexibility (stereochemistry principles) and how the physicochemical properties of the drugs are important and can be incorporated in drug design. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
- Evaluate the influence of tissue pH, drug pKa and logP to the ability of the drug to cross membranes and enter cells as well as use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation to determine the percentage of drug ionisation (known pKa) in tissue at a particular pH and understand the effect that pH has on solubility and hence therapeutic effectiveness (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
- Describe the structural features of surfactants and liposomes that make them useful as drug delivery agents in order to overcome issues of drug solubility and metabolic stability and to improve drug targeting. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Identify and explain metabolic reactions into phase I and II, relate these to the functional group or structure may undergo and predict the resultant metabolite; identify the types of enzymes and co-enzymes needed for the metabolic reaction and describe some examples where knowledge of the metabolic fate of a lead compound has been used to design a more effective drug. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Describe the general mechanisms utilised by bacteria in drug resistance and give an example of an antibiotic that succumbs to each mechanism (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratories | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Test | 20% | Individual Test |
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Key Topics
Special Requirements
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures, 18 hours of laboratory work (6 x 3 hours), 55 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 41 hours of work on assignments/lab report writing and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the test and exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Electronic copy of lecture notes, lecture recordings, laboratory manual and lab report books and examples of previous test and exam papers with model answers.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.