Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Distance Masters Program


Department Coursework and Research Overview

To maintain the strength and reputation of our graduates we have a rigorous set of courses that are designed to hone the student’s skills in aspects of physical/organic chemistry, chemical kinetics and equilibrium phenomena, which we consider essential in understanding problems of any origin, including biological processes, on a molecular level. In addition to the didactic component of our training we view progress with research and the nature of the masters thesis project to be very important.

ENTERING BACKGROUND

It is an expectation that entering students have competence in mathematics that is equivalent to having completed the standard sequence in calculus plus elementary differential equations as well as a background in physical and organic chemistry.

CORE COURSES

The department requires two core courses that each student must take and receive a grade of B or better. These courses are:

1) PHCH 863 Pharmaceutical Equilibria - A course on equilibria in aqueous and non-aqueous systems with emphasis on solutions of interest to pharmaceutical technology. Included are association-dissociation equilibria, complexation, protein binding calculation of species concentrations, estimation of solubility and ionization constants. Methods for the determination of chemical potential in solution are presented.

2) PHCH 973 Mechanisms of Drug Deterioration and Stabilization - A course dealing with mechanisms and chemical kinetics of drug deterioration and stabilization.

ELECTIVE COURSES

Students must complete a total of 18-20 hours of course credit. Course credit includes the two core courses plus a sufficient number of elective courses from the following list to satisfy the number of credit hours:

1) PHCH 975 Advanced Topics in Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics I - A course addressing topics in biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics including complex modeling, treatment of data using computers, cell culture systems, and research topics.

2) PHCH 871 Advanced Pharmaceutical Biotechnology - A course designed to emphasize the important facets of recombinant proteins as pharmaceutical agents. Basics of protein structure and analysis will be introduced, and methods for production, isolation, and purification of recombinant proteins will be described. Potential chemical and physical degradation processes and strategies for circumventing these difficulties will be discussed.

3) PHCH 865 Pharmaceutical Analysis - Advanced course on pharmaceutical analysis. This course is also intended to be a comprehensive treatment of contemporary techniques used to validate analytical methods for the determination of drugs in the bulk form, pharmaceutical formulations, biological samples and other relevant media. The emphasis will be on chromatographic techniques reflecting the preeminent position that those techniques occupy in the field of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis.

4) PHCH 867 Pharmaceutical Mass Transport - A course on mass transport problems of pharmaceutical interest. Topics include physiological pharmacokinetic models, diffusive transport, and drug delivery systems.

5) PHCH 726 Molecular Cell Biology - Fundamental and advanced concepts in cell biology and the molecular interactions responsible for cell function, homeostasis and disease will be presented. Current analytical methods for examining cells and their molecular components will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on the chemical and physical properties of individual proteins, nucleic acids and lipids and their assembly into cellular and subcellular structures.

6) PHCH 716 Drug Delivery - The course will survey the latest technology for delivering pharmaceuticals and biologicals to reduce side effects and enhance drug efficacy. The course will survey the latest research in this area and examine more classical delivery methods. A qualitative and quantitative understanding of drug delivery practice and theory is the goal.

7) PHCH 983 Solid-State Formulation and Stability - Issues related to small and large molecule formulation and stability will be addressed. Topics to be addressed include preformulation and formulation issues. For small molecules issues such as polymorphism, salt selection, and dosage form preparation and characterization will be addressed. For large molecules issues such as choice of stabilizers and lyophilization protocols will be discussed. Both physical and chemical stability in the solid state will be addressed.

The initial course (Advanced Topics in Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics I) will be available in the Fall 2007 semester. Advanced Pharmaceutical Biotechnology will be available in the Spring 2008 semester. Other courses listed above will be available during some of the semesters that they are taught on campus. At least one class will be available each semester.

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

During the first year of enrollment students should identify a research project, a supervisor at the industrial site who will provide day to day direction of the research project, and a mentor at the University of Kansas who will provide overall supervision of the project and monitor the research progress towards a written thesis. Typically the research will be conducted on site at their place of employment. The research component of the program is the primary focus of the degree and research activity is expected as soon as a student starts the program. The student and his/her on-site supervisor must obtain written permission from the company management indicating that the thesis research project can be published without delay.

MASTERS THESIS CREDITS

Each Masters degree student is required take 10-12 credit hours of Masters Thesis (PHCH 899). Students should register for research (usually up to 2 credit hours/semester including the summers) from the time of their acceptance into the program.

MASTERS DEGREE DEFENSE

Each Masters degree student is required to submit and defend a thesis resulting from research of sufficient originality and quality for publication in peer reviewed scientific journals. The research is conducted under the supervision and guidance from the student’s advisor, with input from the thesis committee as needed.

CURRENT COURSE OFFERINGS

During the Fall Semester of 2008 the following courses will be offered.

PHCH 863 Pharmaceutical Equilibria, 3 hr., MW 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
PHCH 975 Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, MW 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.