FARM5200 – The use of biopolymers in drugs and improvement of health
Course description
Course content
The use of biopolymers within pharmacy and medicine is attractive as they are biocompatible and biodegradable substances. The course will give the participants a thorough insight into the chemical and physical properties of biopolymers, focusing on carbohydrate polymers, and how these biopolymers can be structurally characterized. The course will further focus on the use of biopolymers in drug formulations and as drug carriers, and in the development of vaccines. In addition, the health effects of carbohydrate polymers will be covered, with focus on effects on gastrointestinal health, via impact on the microbiota and the immune system, and effects on cholesterol level.
Learning outcome
After completing the course:
- you will have an in-depth knowledge on the structure and structural characterization of biopolymers, and be able to use the knowledge to analyze the structure of carbohydrate polymers.
- you will have an in-depth knowledge on molecular weight and molecular weight determination, in addition to physical properties of carbohydrate polymers, like viscosity and gelforming ability, and can utilize this knowledge.
- you will have an in-depth knowledge on the use of biopolymer-based nanoparticles, films, gels, and other drug formulations.
- you will be able to explain the application of natural carbohydrate polymers in the development of vaccines (ie against microorganisms).
- you will be able to discuss the different health effects?of natural carbohydrate polymers; cholesterol-lowering effects, influence on intestinal microbiota and immune system.
Admission to the course
The course is mainly open to students who have been admitted to the 5-year Master`s Programme in Pharmacy at the Department?of Pharmacy, University of Oslo. In the event that space is available, other master`s level students may apply. Knowledge in relevant subject area corresponding to the content of Semester 1 through 7 at the department’s Master`s Programme in Pharmacy is required. For more information, please contact the Study Administration at the Department of Pharmacy, studieinfo@farmasi.uio.no.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
- FARM1100 – Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- FARM1110 – Pharmacology, Physiology and Cell Biology 1
- FARM1120 – Social Pharmacy
- FARM1130 – Pharmaceutically Based Organic Chemistry
- FARM1140 – Pharmacology, Physiology and Cell Biology 2
- FARM1150 – Pharmaceutical Based Biochemistry
- FARM2100 – Medicinal Chemistry
- FARM2110 – Pharmacotherapy 1
- FARM2120 – Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics
- FARM2130 – Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry
- FARM2140 – Pharmaceutical Microbiology
- FARM2150 – Formulation of Drugs and Quality Assurance in Drug Production
- FARM3100 – Pharmacognosy
- FARM3110 – Pharmacotherapy 2
- FARM3120 – Medicine Use and Public Health
- FARM3130 – Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE)
- FARM4100 – Personalised Drug Therapy
- FARM4110 – Comprehensive Biopharmacy and Formulation Technology
- FARM4120 – Drug Development
- approved the compulsory HMS-courses HMS0501 – Safety and Physical Environment, HMS0502 – Positive Learning Environment, HMS0503 – Laboratory Safety, HMS0506 – Patient Clinic Safety? and?HMS0507 – Fire Safety?required for students at the 5-year Master`s Programme in Pharmacy.
Formal prerequisite knowledge for students admitted to Studiel?p for farmas?yter med mastergrad fra land utenfor EU/E?S:
- FARM4910K – Farmakoterapi og samfunnsfarmasi med fokus p? norske terapitradisjoner og norske forhold
- FARM4920K – Fra virkestoff til ferdig formulering med fokus p? avanserte legemiddelformer
- FARM4930K – Kvalitetssikring ved produksjon og klinisk utpr?vning av legemidler
- approved the compulsory HMS-courses HMS0501 – Safety and Physical Environment, HMS0502 – Positive Learning Environment, HMS0503 – Laboratory Safety, HMS0506 – Patient Clinic Safety? and?HMS0507 – Fire Safety?required for students at the 5-year Master`s Programme in Pharmacy.
For students admitted to the 5-year Master`s Programme in Pharmacy until and including 2016 and who have been transferred from the old study plan, separate formal prerequisite knowledge apply. These are in professional compliance with the formal prerequisite knowledge that apply to the course, but may be replaced by courses from the old study plan, as well as transitional courses. Students on transitional arrangements may contact the study administration for a complete overview of the formal prerequisite knowledge required.
Overlapping courses
- 7 credits overlap with FRM5110 – Polysaccharides of Pharmaceutical Interest; Physical and Chemical Properties, as well as Biological Activity (discontinued).
- 7 credits overlap with FRM9110 – Polysaccharides of Pharmaceutical Interest; Physical and Chemical Properties, as Well as Biological Activity (discontinued).
- 4 credits overlap with FRM5105 – Polysakkarider av farmas?ytisk interesse, kjemiske egenskaper (discontinued).
Teaching
- Lectures (12 hours)
- Seminars (6 hours) - compulsory
- Laboratory work (14 hours) with submission of report - compulsory
Compulsory participation in the course must be completed and compulsory submissions must be approved to pass the exam.?Read more about what applies in the event of absence from compulsory activities.
As?the?teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance.?Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Compulsory participation and approved assignments are valid for 3 years.
The course may be cancelled if the number of enrolled students are low.
Examination
Final written exam which counts 100?% towards the final?grade.?
This course has compulsory exercises that must be approved before you can sit the final?exam.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
It will also be counted as one of the three?attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses:
- FRM5110 – Polysaccharides of Pharmaceutical Interest; Physical and Chemical Properties, as well as Biological Activity (discontinued)
- FRM9110 – Polysaccharides of Pharmaceutical Interest; Physical and Chemical Properties, as Well as Biological Activity (discontinued)
Examination support material
You will have access to a calculator in Inspera during the exam.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in Norwegian. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish. English on?request.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.