The main objective of the course is to provide knowledge about innovative pharmaceutical systems aimed at the delivery of drugs. Basic knowledge relating to the design and optimization of drug delivery systems will also be provided through the quality by design approach.

1. Physico-chemical and biopharmaceutical principles underlying the design of dosage forms
1. Immediate release systems
2.Delayed release systems
3. Sustained release systems
4. Controlled release systems
5. Drug targeting
6. Release kinetics and mechanisms
7. Materials for the design of drug delivery systems
8. Microparticles
9. Polymer conjugates
10. Nanoparticles
11. Nanoparticles for theranostics
12. Liposomes
13. Additive manufacturing technologies
14. Quality by Design (QbD) and Design of Experiments (DOE)

Not provided

D1 - KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. At the end of the course, the student will have to demonstrate to be able to know the systems and approaches used for the controlled administration of biological drugs.

D2 - ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. At the end of the course, the student will have to demonstrate the ability to classify and describe the various innovative technologies for the design of active ingredient delivery systems and to recognize the different mechanisms and kinetics underlying the release.

D3 - AUTONOMY OF JUDGMENT. At the end of the course the student will have to demonstrate the ability to design and characterize controlled release systems of active ingredients, based on the chemical-physical properties of the materials used and appropriate formulation methodologies.

D4 - COMMUNICATION SKILLS. . At the end of the course, the student must demonstrate that he can communicate and transmit the concepts and notions learned during the training activity with appropriate terms and examples.

D5 - LEARNING SKILLS. At the end of the course the students will have to demonstrate that he is able to find and apply new information, compared to that provided during the training activity, necessary to understand and address the problems underlying the design and optimization of the drug delivery systems.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

• Aulton M.E. -  Tecnologie farmaceutiche - Progettazione e allestimento dei medicinali - EDRA
• Colombo P. - Principi di tecnologia farmaceutica - CEA Edizioni
• Perrie Y. and Rades T. - Pharmaceutics: Drug Delivery and Targeting - Pharmaceutical Press

Teaching

Lectures in the classroom carried out in a traditional way assisted by the projection of didactic material and hands-on activities in the lab.

The teaching material consists of topics from the recommended books and selected scientific publications.

Innovative teaching methods

Flipped Lessons

Attendance

Attendance to classes is not mandatory but is strongly recommended on a regular basis to encourage both classroom interaction and the acquisition of knowledge and skills.

Course books

• Aulton M.E. -  Tecnologie farmaceutiche - Progettazione e allestimento dei medicinali - EDRA
• Colombo P. - Principi di tecnologia farmaceutica - CEA Edizioni
• Perrie Y. and Rades T. - Pharmaceutics: Drug Delivery and Targeting - Pharmaceutical Press

Assessment

The written test will be a 2-hour semi-structured test, consisting of 3 open questions and 1 exercise.

The objective of the open questions is to ascertain the  basic knowledge relating to the topics, the theoretical principles and fundamental concepts addressed by the course. The objective of the exercise is to ascertain the ability to apply knowledge, manage complex situations and make connections between topics covered by the teaching programme.

Open questions and the exercise will be evaluated with a different weight score: up to 8 score for open questions and up to 9 score for the exercise.

The oral interview, lasting on average 20 minutes, will start from a comment on the written test and will serve both to evaluate communication skills and to ascertain the ability to apply knowledge and concepts relating to the topics of the course.

Both the written test and the oral exam will be evaluated with a mark expressed out of thirty. The final grade will derive from the oral exam, also taking into consideration the outcome of the written test.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Non-attending students can use the Moodle platform (Blended Learning UniUrb-CISDEL)

Attendance

Attendance to the lectures is not mandatory but is strongly recommended on a regular basis to encourage both classroom interaction and the acquisition of knowledge and skills.

Course books

To give the opportunity to students and non-attending students to compensate with independent study carried out during the lessons, the following materials referring to the same contents of the program in order to promote full understanding:

• Aulton M.E. -  Tecnologie farmaceutiche - Progettazione e allestimento dei medicinali - EDRA
• Colombo P. - Principi di tecnologia farmaceutica - CEA Edizioni
• Perrie Y. and Rades T. - Pharmaceutics: Drug Delivery and Targeting - Pharmaceutical Press

Assessment

The exam consists of a written test (unless otherwise indicated related to the health emergency) followed by an oral test.

The written test, lasting 2 hours, is divided into 4 open-ended questions and will be assessed with a mark expressed out of thirty. For admission to the oral test, the student must have acquired a score of 18/30 in the written test.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The exam can be taken in English at the request of the student