Industrial pharmacy

Introduction to polymers. Molecular weights: definitions and experimental methods for their determination. Step polymerization: kinetics, extent of conversion, molecular-weight distribution. Radical chain polymerization: characteristics, mechanism, kinetics. Introduction to stereoisomerism in polymers. Stereoregular polymers: isotactic, syndiotactic. Ziegler-Natta Polymerizazions. The case of polyethylene and polypropylene. Anionic and cationic polymerizations. Polymerization methods (approx. 16 hours) The solid state in polymers: the amorphous state and the semi-crystalline state; glass transition temperature, crystallization and melting temperatures. Mechanical properties of polymers. Polymer solutions and chain dimensions. Viscosity of polymer solutions; the intrinsic viscosity. Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation and viscosity average molecular weight. Principles of Rheology. Non-Newtonian fluids: pseudoplastic behavior of polymer solutions. Viscoelasticity. Mechanical spectra of polymer solutions. Main types of synthetic polymers and their applications (approx. 14 hours). Polysaccharides: general properties. Starch, cellulose, alginates, guar, dextran and other classes of polysaccharides: structures, uses in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Polymeric biomaterials: biofunctionality and biocompatibility, biodegradability, mucoadhesive properties. Applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Devices for controlled drug delivery: matrix and reservoir devices, subcutaneous implants, ocular inserts, transdermal patches. Hydrogel: structures, swelling degree. "Smart" and " stimuli responsive " hydrogels. Drug release from hydrogel matrices. Examples of some IPN. Polymers for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications: synthetic (polyolefins, polyesters, polysiloxanes, PEG), characteristics and applications; natural: cellulose and its derivatives, other polysaccharides. Polymers for gastroresistant tablets: polyacrylates (Eudragit). Microparticles and microencapsulation: interfacial polymerization, ionic complexation, solvent evaporation techniques, spray drying. Applications of microencapsulation in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic fields. Polymer nanoparticles: definitions, classification, synthetic and formulation methods. Cellular internalization of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles as drug carrier. Coating and passive targeting (EPR effect). Nanoparticle functionalization and active targeting. Examples in antitumor therapy. Monographs of important polymers for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications: hyaluronic acid, gelatin, eudragit, cellulose ethers, carbopol and pemulen (approx. 34 hours).

For a good understanding of the classes of Polymers for Pharmaceutics, notions of General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry are indispensable, notions of Physical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology are considered very important.

1) R.J. Young, P.A. Lovell, "Introduction to Polymers", Chapman and Hall, N.Y., 2° edizione, 1991; 3) AIM Associazione Italiana di Scienza e Tecnologia delle Macromolecole: "Fondamenti di Scienza dei Polimeri", Pacini editore, Pisa, 1998 4) Atti del Convegno AIM su "Biopolimeri e polimeri biocompatibili: aspetti chimici e macromolecolari", 1991. 5) Atti del XIX Convegno Scuola AIM Mario Farina su "Polimeri in Medicina", 1997; 6) Copies of lesson slides provided by the teacher

The course of Polymers for Pharmaceutics consists in frontal lectures, during which the teacher frequently stimulates the discussion and asks students to pose questions about polymeric materials and specifically on their applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. The teacher will provide the students with the complete and exhaustive teaching material, with which they can easily follow the lessons and study for the final examination. Attendance to the course is optional but strongly recommended. In case of limitations due to the pandemic situation, the course will be held remotely or in mixed mode, using Google Meet

Attendance to the course is optional but strongly recommended.

The student evaluation method consists of an oral exam (five examination sessions/year plus 1-2 extra sessions for graduating or off-course students) during which the student is invited to present a power point on a topic of the course, such as a monograph on a polymer or a specific application of polymers in the pharmaceutical or biomedical field. During the presentation, lasting no more than 15-20 minutes, the teacher can verify the student's ability to deal with the individual study of the subject, verifying the concepts learning, the appropriate language and the consistency of the exposure; the teacher will also verify the acquisition of the general notions related to the polymer science and their main applications, asking more specific questions regarding the presented topic. The overall duration of the final test is estimated at around 40-45 minutes. The requirements taken into consideration for the evaluation of the student proficiency are: the knowledge of polymer science and of how polymer physico-chemical characteristics determine their different uses; the knowledge of the features required to a polymeric materials for their use as biomaterials in medical devices or pharmaceutical dosage forms; the ability of elaborating topics and the efficacy of the individual study. Basic knowledge and reasoning ability on the several topics are required to pass the examination with a passing grade. Excellent knowledge and skills in exposing and reworking the acquired notions are required to pass the examination with 30/30 cum Laude.

The course of Polymers for Pharmaceutics consists in frontal lectures, during which the teacher frequently stimulates the discussion and asks students to pose questions about polymeric materials and specifically on their applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. The teacher will provide the students with the complete and exhaustive teaching material, with which they can easily follow the lessons and study for the final examination. Attendance to the course is optional but strongly recommended. In case of limitations due to the pandemic situation, the course will be held remotely or in mixed mode, using Google Meet

Introduction to polymers. Molecular weights: definitions and experimental methods for their determination. Step polymerization: kinetics, extent of conversion, molecular-weight distribution. Radical chain polymerization: characteristics, mechanism, kinetics. Introduction to stereoisomerism in polymers. Stereoregular polymers: isotactic, syndiotactic. Ziegler-Natta Polymerizazions. The case of polyethylene and polypropylene. Anionic and cationic polymerizations. Polymerization methods (approx. 16 hours) The solid state in polymers: the amorphous state and the semi-crystalline state; glass transition temperature, crystallization and melting temperatures. Mechanical properties of polymers. Polymer solutions and chain dimensions. Viscosity of polymer solutions; the intrinsic viscosity. Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation and viscosity average molecular weight. Principles of Rheology. Non-Newtonian fluids: pseudoplastic behavior of polymer solutions. Viscoelasticity. Mechanical spectra of polymer solutions. Main types of synthetic polymers and their applications (approx. 14 hours). Polysaccharides: general properties. Starch, cellulose, alginates, guar, dextran and other classes of polysaccharides: structures, uses in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Polymeric biomaterials: biofunctionality and biocompatibility, biodegradability, mucoadhesive properties. Applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Devices for controlled drug delivery: matrix and reservoir devices, subcutaneous implants, ocular inserts, transdermal patches. Hydrogel: structures, swelling degree. "Smart" and " stimuli responsive " hydrogels. Drug release from hydrogel matrices. Examples of some IPN. Polymers for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications: synthetic (polyolefins, polyesters, polysiloxanes, PEG), characteristics and applications; natural: cellulose and its derivatives, other polysaccharides. Polymers for gastroresistant tablets: polyacrylates (Eudragit). Microparticles and microencapsulation: interfacial polymerization, ionic complexation, solvent evaporation techniques, spray drying. Applications of microencapsulation in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic fields. Polymer nanoparticles: definitions, classification, synthetic and formulation methods. Cellular internalization of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles as drug carrier. Coating and passive targeting (EPR effect). Nanoparticle functionalization and active targeting. Examples in antitumor therapy. Monographs of important polymers for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications: hyaluronic acid, gelatin, eudragit, cellulose ethers, carbopol and pemulen (approx. 34 hours).

For a good understanding of the classes of Polymers for Pharmaceutics, notions of General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry are indispensable, notions of Physical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology are considered very important.

1) R.J. Young, P.A. Lovell, "Introduction to Polymers", Chapman and Hall, N.Y., 2° edizione, 1991; 3) AIM Associazione Italiana di Scienza e Tecnologia delle Macromolecole: "Fondamenti di Scienza dei Polimeri", Pacini editore, Pisa, 1998 4) Atti del Convegno AIM su "Biopolimeri e polimeri biocompatibili: aspetti chimici e macromolecolari", 1991. 5) Atti del XIX Convegno Scuola AIM Mario Farina su "Polimeri in Medicina", 1997; 6) Copies of lesson slides provided by the teacher

The course of Polymers for Pharmaceutics consists in frontal lectures, during which the teacher frequently stimulates the discussion and asks students to pose questions about polymeric materials and specifically on their applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. The teacher will provide the students with the complete and exhaustive teaching material, with which they can easily follow the lessons and study for the final examination. Attendance to the course is optional but strongly recommended. In case of limitations due to the pandemic situation, the course will be held remotely or in mixed mode, using Google Meet

Attendance to the course is optional but strongly recommended.

The student evaluation method consists of an oral exam (five examination sessions/year plus 1-2 extra sessions for graduating or off-course students) during which the student is invited to present a power point on a topic of the course, such as a monograph on a polymer or a specific application of polymers in the pharmaceutical or biomedical field. During the presentation, lasting no more than 15-20 minutes, the teacher can verify the student's ability to deal with the individual study of the subject, verifying the concepts learning, the appropriate language and the consistency of the exposure; the teacher will also verify the acquisition of the general notions related to the polymer science and their main applications, asking more specific questions regarding the presented topic. The overall duration of the final test is estimated at around 40-45 minutes. The requirements taken into consideration for the evaluation of the student proficiency are: the knowledge of polymer science and of how polymer physico-chemical characteristics determine their different uses; the knowledge of the features required to a polymeric materials for their use as biomaterials in medical devices or pharmaceutical dosage forms; the ability of elaborating topics and the efficacy of the individual study. Basic knowledge and reasoning ability on the several topics are required to pass the examination with a passing grade. Excellent knowledge and skills in exposing and reworking the acquired notions are required to pass the examination with 30/30 cum Laude.

The course of Polymers for Pharmaceutics consists in frontal lectures, during which the teacher frequently stimulates the discussion and asks students to pose questions about polymeric materials and specifically on their applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. The teacher will provide the students with the complete and exhaustive teaching material, with which they can easily follow the lessons and study for the final examination. Attendance to the course is optional but strongly recommended. In case of limitations due to the pandemic situation, the course will be held remotely or in mixed mode, using Google Meet