Program Overview
CHIMICA FARMACEUTICA I (MODULO)
Course Description
The course "Chimica Farmaceutica I" aims to analyze specific classes of drugs, including antimicrobials, antiprotozoals, and antivirals. It also covers the principles of antitumor chemotherapy and chemotherapeutic drugs. Additionally, it describes drugs derived from hormones and vitamins. For each class of compounds, the course explores structural characteristics, kinetics, and mechanisms of action, providing examples of synthesis of major drugs.
Educational Objectives
The course objectives are to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of action, structure-activity correlations, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles, and synthetic methodologies of various classes of chemotherapeutic agents. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Understand the molecular mechanisms of action of the analyzed drugs
- Distinguish the structural determinants characterizing the families of analyzed drugs
- Analyze structure-activity correlations defined during the development of currently used drugs
- Identify the structural bases causing metabolic instability, resistance phenomena, and side effects
- Describe and comment on the synthetic methodologies used for the preparation of the described active principles
Teaching Methods
The course consists of 40 hours of frontal lectures, which will be held in person. Students with certified disabilities or specific learning disorders are invited to contact the teacher and the department's disability referent to agree on any necessary adjustments to the teaching methods.
Course Content
The course systematically treats the structure-activity correlations, synthetic strategies, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic characteristics of various classes of chemotherapeutics (antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antifungal, antiviral, and antitumor) and steroid and peptide hormones.
The detailed program includes:
- Antiseptics and disinfectants
- Sulfonamides
- Antibiotics
- a. Antibiotics acting on the bacterial membrane
- b. Antibiotics acting on protein synthesis
- c. Antibiotics acting on transcription
- Quinolones
- Nitrofuranic compounds
- Oxazolidinones
- Antimycobacterial chemotherapeutics
- Antifungal chemotherapeutics
- Antiprotozoal chemotherapeutics
- Antihelmintics
- Antivirals
- Antitumorals
- Peptide hormones
- Steroid hormones
- Diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals
Texts/Bibliography
- Foye's. Principi di chimica farmaceutica. Piccin
- Wilson & Gisvold. Chimica Farmaceutica. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
- Gasco, Gualtieri, Melchiorre. Chimica farmaceutica. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
- Costantino, Sbardella. Chimica farmaceutica. Edises
Teachers and Commissions
- Andrea Spallarossa
- Commissione d'esame:
- Andrea Spallarossa (President)
- Bruno Tasso
- Chiara Brullo (Presidente Supplente)
- Matteo Lusardi (Supplente)
- Francesca Michela Musumeci (Supplente)
- Silvia Schenone (Supplente)
Lessons
- Start of lessons: According to the academic calendar available at the following link
- Lesson schedule: Consultable at the EasyAcademy portal
Exams
- Exam method: Oral exam in person, lasting approximately 45 minutes, on the topics covered during the lessons
- Passing the exam requires a score of 18/30 or higher
- Assessment method: The oral exam aims to evaluate the student's preparation in terms of mastery of the topics covered, ability to make connections between families of compounds belonging to the same therapeutic class, and expressive ability and language properties.