Module Database Search



MODULE DESCRIPTOR
Module Title
Advances in Pharmaceutical Science
Reference PLM343 Version 1
Created June 2023 SCQF Level SCQF 11
Approved June 2022 SCQF Points 15
Amended August 2021 ECTS Points 7.5

Aims of Module
To enable students to develop a critical and detailed understanding of the techniques pertinent to advanced drug delivery and the ability to evaluate the application of such systems to the improved design, delivery and efficacy of medicinal products.

Learning Outcomes for Module
On completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:
1 Critically evaluate the design, formulation and application of advanced drug delivery systems for the different routes of administering medicinal products.
2 Demonstrate an advanced understanding of established and developing technologies for drug delivery.
3 Critically evaluate aspects of pharmacology pertinent to the development of personalised medicines.

Indicative Module Content
Delivering modern medicines which are safe, painless, reliable, targeted and efficient. Topics include: Design and formulation of delivery systems for parenteral, oral, buccal, nasal, pulmonary, ocular and transdermal delivery; hydrogels as drug delivery systems; drug targeting and controlled release of therapeutic molecules, including peptides and proteins, from contemporary dosage forms such as controlled release matrix systems, amorphous solid dispersions, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS), lipidic and polymeric vesicles, nanoparticles, micelles and 3D-printed dosage forms; characterisation of biopharmaceuticals; pharmacogenomics; disease susceptibility; cell and gene therapy; immunotherapy; science of the practice of delivering biopharmaceuticals; personalised medicines; age related medicines; digital health.

Module Delivery
Lectures (including delivery by external industrialists) and a series of small group tutorials on a specific area of advanced pharmaceutical science using a problem-based learning (PBL) approach.

Indicative Student Workload Full Time Part Time
Contact Hours 30 N/A
Non-Contact Hours 120 N/A
Placement/Work-Based Learning Experience [Notional] Hours N/A N/A
TOTAL 150 N/A
Actual Placement hours for professional, statutory or regulatory body    

ASSESSMENT PLAN
If a major/minor model is used and box is ticked, % weightings below are indicative only.
Component 1
Type: Practical Exam Weighting: 100% Outcomes Assessed: 1, 2, 3
Description: A 20 minute individual presentation followed by 10 minutes of questions on a challenging problem in advanced drug delivery.

MODULE PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTOR
Explanatory Text
Component 1 (CW1) comprises 100% of the module grade. To pass the module, a minimum of a grade D is required. Non-submission will result in an NS grade.
Module Grade Minimum Requirements to achieve Module Grade:
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
F F
NS Non-submission of work by published deadline or non-attendance for examination

Module Requirements
Prerequisites for Module None, in addition to course entry requirements.
Corequisites for module None.
Precluded Modules None.

INDICATIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY
1 Aulton, M.E. (ed.) Taylor, K. (2017). 'Aulton's pharmaceutics - the design and manufacture of medicines', 5th edition, Churchill Livingstone.
2 Florence, A.T. (2010). 'An introduction to clinical pharmaceutics', Pharmaceutical Press.
3 Ho, R.J.Y., Gibaldi, M. (2013). 'Biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals: transforming proteins and genes into drugs', 2nd edition, Wiley Blackwell.
4 Trent, R.J. (2012). 'Molecular medicine: genomics to personalised healthcare', 4th edition, Academic Press.
5 Greenstein, B., Brook, D.A. (2011). 'Biological therapeutics', Pharmaceutical Press.
6 Perrie, Y., Rades, T. (2012). Pharmaceutics: drug delivery and targeting, 2nd edition, Fasttrack, Pharmaceutical Press.

Robert Gordon University, Garthdee House, Aberdeen, AB10 7QB, Scotland, UK: a Scottish charity, registration No. SC013781