Corsi di studio in
Farmacia - Chimica e tecnologia farmaceutiche

Let the students know the use of new natural and synthetic polymeric materials and their chemical properties and technological characteristics. Examples of biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. The Course aims also to provide an overview of the characterization techniques adopted to obtain information on the polymeric devices for drug delivery.

Acquisition of skills on the use of new natural and synthetic polymeric materials according to their chemical properties and technological characteristics that regulate the release mechanisms of drugs. Students are familiar with the characterization techniques (chemical, structural, spectroscopic, thermal, mechanical) of polymeric materials and are able to understand the type of information they can obtain.

The lessons will be in streaming mode via the Webex platform, according to the lesson timetable.
Students will be able to enjoy deferred registrations, which will be freely available on Moodle as soon as possible. The slides shown during the lessons will also be available on the Moodle page.

If circumstances allow, some lessons will take place in the classroom and will be streamed for students who cannot reach the venue.

The student has to discuss a presentation (in the form of a file.pptx or file.pdf, etc.) that she/he has prepared on a literature paper on drug delivery chosen between two proposals by the teachers. The student is also asked to answer to questions on the arguments explained during the lessons. The teacher have to be contacted previously to choose the literature paper.

ON LINE EXAMS: In case of persistence of the health emergency due to COVID-19, the exam will be carried out remotely. It will consist of an oral interview (in the same way as for the face-to-face exam) via Web-Ex, according to the Rectoral Decree n.1097 / 2020.

These methods may be subject to change in the event of publication of further Rectoral decrees relating to the conduct of the exams themselves.

What is a polymer?

Elements of the history of polymers. Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Synthesis of polyolefins: metallocenic catalysts. Non-metallocenic polymerization catalysts. Linear, branched and cross-linked polymers. Homopolymers and copolymers. Tacticity. Thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers. Glass transition temperature. Average molecular weight of polymers.

Mechanical properties. Elasticity and viscosity, viscoelastic behavior. Polyaddition and condensation. Ring opening polymerization. Polymer characterization. Introduction to analysis techniques: morphological-textural (light scattering, gel permeation Chromatography, Viscometry, osmometry, N2 physisorption), chemical (EDS), structural (XRD, SAXS), microstructural (optical and electronic microscopy-SEM, FESEM, TEM, STM, AFM), thermal (DTA / DSC, TGA), spectroscopic (IR, Raman, NMR, XPS), mechanical (traction / compression) measurements.

Biodegradable polymers, polymer degradation mechanisms, drug release mechanisms. Drug delivery devices.

How to carry out a bibliographic search using the BIBLIOPASS Sistema Bibliotecario di Ateneo. Some search engines: Scopus, ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed.

The main natural and synthetic polymeric materials and their chemical and technological characteristics.

Biomedical and pharmaceutical applications of natural and synthetic polymers.

Implants for drug release.

Polymeric prodrugs.

Polymeric nanoparticles: classification, preparation methods, characterization, passive and active targeting.

Slides and possibly articles from the recent literature.

The methods by which the teaching activity will be carried out may vary according to the limitations imposed by the current health crisis. In any case, the remote mode is guaranteed for the entire academic year.