Class Medicinal and Therapeutic Chemistry

The Medicinal Chemistry and Therapeutics course focuses on the detailed study of drug molecular targets and how these interact with the body to produce therapeutic but also adverse effects. The course explores pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, which explain how drugs act and are metabolized in the human body. The study includes specific topics such as antimicrobial agents, antitumor agents, cholinergics, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, opioid analgesics, and anti-ulcer agents. It also addresses the design and discovery of new drugs using methods such as quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) and combinatorial synthesis. The course provides a solid foundation for the pharmaceutical industry and scientific research, preparing students for the development and innovation of new medications based on natural bioactives.

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1. Introduction to organic pharmaceutical chemistry: drugs, drug targets and intermolecular interactions. 2. Drug targets: structure and function. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. 3. Discovery, design, and development of drugs: prototypes and analogues, isolation, purification and determination of structure, sources of prototypes and drugs from natural products, medicinal plants. Optimization of molecular target interactions. Molecular target access optimization. 4. Tools for commercialization: clinical and pre-clinical trials, patents, regulatory affairs, and chemical process development 5. Tools for medicinal chemistry: Combinatorial and, Quantitative Structure-Activity Relations (QSAR). 6. Topics in Medicinal Chemistry: antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer agents, drugs that affect neurotransmission (cholinergic, adrenergic, and dopaminergic). Opioid and anti-ulcer analgesics.  

For the Medicinal Chemistry and Therapeutics course, innovative teaching methodologies include the use of the online platform Moodle to provide educational materials and facilitate communication. The theoretical classes are interactive, employing active methods such as case studies and debates. Practical activities will be conducted in the laboratories, where students apply experimental concepts. Project-based learning involves completing written assignments and presentations on specific topics. Discussions of scientific articles and the creation of digital portfolios to document experiences are incorporated to deepen understanding. Continuous feedback and online practical and theoretical exams offer flexibility and ongoing assessment of student performance.

1. Patrick, G. L. (2005). An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry. Oxford: University Press. 2. Thomas, G. (2008). Medicinal Chemistry: An Introduction. New Jersey: John Wiley & sons. 3. Vollhardt, K. P. C., Schore, N. E. (2014). Organic Chemistry: structure and function. New York: Freeman and Company. 4. Clayden, J., Greeves, N., Warren, S., Wothers, P. (2001). Organic chemistry. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. 5. Foye, W.O., Lemke, T. L., Williams, D. A. (2012). Principles of Medicinal Chemistry. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.