Entry requirements

150 credits, with 120 credits in biomedicine, pharmaceutical sciences, drug development, natural sciences and/or engineering, including (1) physical chemistry and pharmaceutics 13 credits or (2) Molecular Biopharmaceutics 7.5 credits.

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

After course completion, the student should:

• Explain and analyze individual physiological, biochemical, and cell biological changes that can be utilized for patient-centered and targeted drug release in disease conditions, such as various types of cancer and inflammation.
• Describe and apply different transport mechanisms and strategies for patient-centered, targeted drug formulations across different administration routes.
• Describe and critically evaluate the design, characterization, and application of different nanocarriers and patient-centered formulation strategies for diagnostics, therapy, and theranostics.
• Analyze and integrate patient-specific biological characteristics and individual preferences, such as route of administration and dosage form, in the design of patient-centered nanomedicines.
• Analyze and apply strategies for the development of nano-based, patient-centered drug formulations with an emphasis on toxicological, and regulatory aspects as well as pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Plan experiments, compile, analyze, and report results and scientific literature, both in writing and orally, relevant to the development of nanomedicine and patient-centered drug formulations, using correct English.

Content

Patient-centered nanomedicine designs and applies nanoscale drug-delivery systems tailored to an individual’s biology (e.g., disease-specific biomarkers) and preferences (e.g., route of administration, dosage form). It is often paired with advanced diagnostic systems to guide and monitor drug delivery (theranostics). The course provides an in-depth understanding of the development and application of advanced drug delivery systems with controlled, targeted, and selective drug release for patient-centered treatments using various modalities, including biological drugs. It also addresses diagnostic materials used in imaging techniques as well as theranostic strategies that combine diagnosis and therapy. The course highlights how disease induces physiological, biochemical, and cellular changes and how this knowledge can be utilized to develop patient-centered and targeted treatment strategies. Furthermore, the principles of nanomedicine are introduced, with a focus on the behavior of nanoparticles in biological fluids (e.g., plasma, intestinal fluids) and on how physiologically triggered drug release mechanisms, such as metabolic or microbial activation, can be applied. Particular emphasis is placed on the principles of passive and active targeting and the cellular and tissue uptake of nanoparticles and patient-centered drug delivery systems. The course also covers manufacturing methods and characterization techniques for various nanovehicles and nanocarriers. Finally, it addresses toxicological, and regulatory aspects, to provide a deeper understanding of the clinical translation of nanomedicine and patient-centered drug delivery systems.

Instruction

Teaching is conducted through lectures, self-study using pre-recorded lecture material and course literature, discussion seminars, laboratory work, and project work. Some teaching activities will be conducted digitally.

The course is taught in English.

The project work is mandatory.

Assessment

A written examination is held at the end of the course. To pass the course, a passing grade is required on both the written examination (3.5 hp) and the project work (4 hp).

If special reasons apply, the examiner may make exceptions from the described examination and allow a student to be assessed differently. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the coordinator of the university.