Medicines

Introduction, short history of medicins and drug discovery. Fundamental conceptions in medicinal chemistry. Rules of drug research and production: preclinical and clinical development, GLP, GMP, role of FDA and other offices.

Biological molecules: amino acids, peptides and proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids.

Routes of drug administration: methods of extravascular and intravascular administration. Methods to influence of the duration of biological effect (retardation, special methods).

The pharmacokinetic phase: role of adsorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination (ADME) properties in drug action.

Dose/biological effect relations: single oral dose, repeated oral doses. Calculation of safety parameters of drugs (ED₅₀, LD₅₀, TI, CSF, SSM). Selectivities of biologically active compounds, effects and side effects.

Time dependent exchange of bilogical effects of drugs: habituation, addiction, sensitivity and allergic reactions. Drug-drug interactions: synergism, antagonism.

Absorption and distribution of drugs: diffusion, carrier aided absorption, biological pump mechanisms. Determination of drug distribution.

Effects of the drugs on the human body: drugs with physical or physico-cemical effects. Type of chemical bonds between a drug and the biological target molecule: reversible and irreversible connections. Affinity and specific activity. Multipoint interactions: role of stereochemistry in drug action.

Drug metabolism: phase I metabolitic reactions (oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, hydration) and phase II reactions (conjugations).

Drug metabolism and drug design (prodrugs, active metabolites, etc).

Elimination of drugs and metabolites. Renal elimination, role of the liver in elimination. (Enterohepatic cycle, reabsorption in kidney).

An introduction to drug discovery: solubility and drug design. Hansch parameter, electronic and steric effects. QSAR approaches, computer aided drug design, methods for preparation molecular libraries and HTS methods.

Selected examples of drug action at some common target areas: 
Antibacterial and antifungal agents. Antiinflammatory agents (steroids and nonsteroid type antiinflammatory agents). Opioid type analgesics.