3 credits
Fall 2025 Lecture Upper DivisionThe purpose of this course is to provide a foundation in the basic concepts of pharmaceutics that are the foundation of drug delivery. The course begins by presenting the molecular basis for aqueous and lipid solubility of drugs, pharmacokinetic principles that are related to dosage forms, mechanisms by which excipients or manufacturing processes affect bioavailability, and chemical kinetics applied to the shelf-life of dosage forms. The pharmaceutics principles are then applied to successively more complex liquid dosage forms: solution, emulsion, and suspension. The excipients that are required to prepare the dosage forms: buffers, preservatives, emulsifiers, suspending agents, wetting agents, etc., and the method of preparing each dosage form in both a compounding and manufacturing setting are covered.
Learning Outcomes1Provide an understanding of the relationship between dosage forms, the design of dosage forms, including how to turn molecules into medicines, and drug delivery and the physicochemical properties and structures of drug molecules.
2Enable students to comprehend the underlying principles of drug product quality and be able to apply them to engage in critical thinking of drug stability, formulation, and delivery.
3Recognize the importance of physiological conditions on the design, selection, and performance of dosage forms.
4Build up the knowledge in drug development and delivery and develop problem-solving skills.
5Build a solid foundation for understanding the role of formulations in drug therapy.