Entry requirements

The general rules laid down by the Curriculum Committee of the Faculty of Pharmacy apply (see programme curriculum). For entry to the separate course, students are required to fulfil the basic requirements for university entry and have the knowledge equivalent to 20 points in chemistry from a science or technology programme.

Aims

The course aims to give the student the knowledge of biophysical chemistry needed to solve physico-chemical problems and questions relating to the biosciences. The course is intended to give the student:

- the knowledge required to measure, quantify and understand properties of chemical systems relevant to the biological cell in a physico-chemical perspective. Examples of such knowledge are: The interactions of intermolecular exchange for cell structure (e.g.the physical properties of membranes), protein folding, distribution equilibria, complex formation equilibria and transport properties of molecular and macromolecular systems (e.g. size, shape, osmosis, diffusion, sedimentation, rheology and electrical properties).

- the ability to seek, summarise, present and critically analyse data relating to a specific problem.

Content

The course comprises thermodynamics, intermolecular interactions, surface and colloid chemistry, physical chemistry of electrolyte, molecular and macromolecular solutions, coordination chemistry, colligative properties, diffusion, chemical reaction kinetics and spectroscopy. The laboratory part of the course includes determination of the phase behaviour of biological lipids and macromolecules in water, distribution of drugs in biologically relevant models, micelle catalysis, freezing point depression, stability studies of drugs and formation of metal complexes.

Instruction

The tuition comprises lectures, group exercises, seminars, demonstrations and laboratory exercises. The results of laboratory exercises are presented orally and in writing. Special emphasis is placed on stimulating the student to seek information and solve problems independently.

Compulsory parts of the course:

All assignments in connection with laboratory sessions.

Assessment

Written examinations are held at the end of the course. Examinations in laboratory exercises included in the course may be resat in connection with the next course at the earliest and then only if there is a vacancy. Students are required to pass the laboratory course (examination code) and the written examination (examination code). Re-examination takes place 4-5 weeks after completion of the course. Students are allowed to sit the examination up to six times, i.e. the first examination and five re-examinations.