Drug Delivery & Biosensors

MATS31802 Drug Delivery & Biosensors 10 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 6 Jonny Blaker Unit coordinator Department of Materials 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 Materials for drug delivery and biosensors both consider the interaction between synthetic substances and biological or biologically active molecules. Materials for drug delivery and biosensors both consider the interaction between synthetic substances and biological or biologically active molecules. The drug delivery part of the unit considers the structure-property relationships for polymers in the context of drug delivery. The importance and need for drug delivery are discussed and then the selection and properties of polymeric materials for this purpose is considered. Design is considered in detail and methods for using geometry and material structure to achieve constant or timed release of drugs are explored. The principles of achieving targeted release are discussed and examples given. The module concludes with examination of two commercial controlled release systems from the viewpoint of the principles learnt from the module. Biosensors measure the concentration of dilute molecules such as sugars, drug metabolites and antibodies that are present in complex solutions such as blood or wastewater. Appropriate materials selection not only explores the feasibility of detection but also balances the trade-offs in sensitivity, selectivity and the costs associated with the detector and sensors. The biosensors portion of the unit provides a critical analysis of common and emerging detection methods for biomolecules and an introduction to their quantifiable characteristics that dictate their utility. The unit aims to:<ul> <li>Provide the students with a working knowledge of how contemporary polymeric materials are used and fabricated as biomaterials for the treatment of disease and disability; and</li> <li>Provide an introduction to the theory, methods and regulatory aspects related to the use of biosensors for analyte detection.</li></ul> A greater depth of the learning outcomes will be covered in the following sections: <ul> <li> Knowledge and understanding</li> <li> Intellectual skills</li> <li> Practical skills</li> <li> Transferable skills and personal qualities</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Know the most widely used classes of polymers used for the fabrication of biomedical materials.</li> <li>Understand the reasons for the use of polymers to achieve controlled delivery of drugs in relation to polymer degradation mechanisms.</li> <li>Understand the polymer chemistry and structure-property relationships for each of the types of polymer studied.</li> <li>Describe the origins of selectivity in various biosensors.</li> <li>Describe the theory and operation of biosensors.  </li></ul> <ul> <li>Relate polymer structure and properties to their performance in vitro and in vivo.</li> <li>Recognise the main benefits of microspheres and nanoparticles in drug delivery applications.</li> <li>Mathematically relate spectroscopic or electrochemical changes to the presence of or concentration of an analyte.  </li></ul> <ul> <li>Summarise key points of a scientific paper coherently and succinctly</li></ul> Lectures (live and pre-recorded), coursework, recommended textbooks, web resources, past exam papers, electronic supporting information (Blackboard). 1 Written exam 70% 2 Written assignment (inc essay) 30% Written and verbal N <ul> <li>Biomaterials science, an introduction to materials in medicine, 3rd revised edition, B. D. Ratner, A. S. Hoffman, F. J. Schoen and J. E. Lemons, eds., Elsevier Academic Press, Oxford, 2012.</li> <li>Chemical sensors and biosensors, B. R. Eggins, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 2002.</li> <li>Biodegradable polymers as drug delivery systems, M. Chasin and R. Langer, eds., Marcel Dekker, New York, 1990.</li> <li>Novel drug delivery systems, 2nd edition, Y. W. Chien, CRC Press, 1991.  </li></ul> Lectures 20 Practical classes & workshops 6 Tutorials 3 0 71