Upon completion of this course, you will have a thorough understanding of the organic synthesis of five important classes of drug molecules. You will be able to apply retrosynthesis and can design a realistic synthesis of the drug molecule on this basis. In addition you will become familiar with a number of classic 'MedChem Tools' for optimization of drug-target molecular interactions.
The following academic skills are part of the course (they are not explicitly tested but are integrated into the 3 parts for the exam):
- critically analyzing problem sets,
- reading scientific literature critically,
- able to estimate, on the basis of assignments (from tutorials), to what extent the subject matter has been mastered
- able to draw logical conclusions on the basis of insights obtained from the literature,
- able to summarize scientific literature and reformulate it in their own words,
- able to put together a presentation in which main and secondary issues are clearly separated,
- able to give an oral presentation for an audience (of third year students) which is scientifically sound,
- able to work together in a group and take responsibility for the final result
- able to show (critical) self-reflection with regard to one's own learning process and one's own functioning in the group assignment.
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This course is meant to deepen your knowledge of organic chemistry and organic synthesis in relation to drug molecules.
The 20th century medical revolution was largely instigated by the discovery of new drug molecules. Medicinal chemistry deals with the discovery, design, identification and synthesis of drug molecules, and also with the study of the relationships between the structure of a drug molecule and its behaviour in the body.
The field of medicinal chemistry is rooted in chemistry, but also uses various other disciplines, such as biology, medicine and pharmacy. By discovering new and innovative drug molecules, medicinal chemistry has been pushing the boundaries of science. Proper strategies require insight into physiological and patho-physiological, pharmacological and biochemical processes. Besides, medicinal chemists search for sample structures (lead compounds) in nature (pharmacognosy), in various organic molecule files (compound libraries) or by using the computer (computational modelling). Molecular recognition and the key-lock principle determine what a drug molecule achieves in the body (pharmacological effect) and how a drug molecule is processed by and excreted from the body. This behaviour (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) is determined by the physical-chemical properties of a drug molecule.
By looking at five major diseases, the organic synthesis and pharmacology of a number of drug molecules for treating these diseases will be explored.
By way of conclusion, thematic lectures will draw a picture of the work of a medicinal chemist.
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