Lecture 16: Flashcards
What is pharmaceutics?
Anything to do with designing dosage forms to develop drugs.
Why is the route of drug administration important?
Although we know the bioavailability of injections is 100% as it goes straight into the blood stream, not all medications are like this.
Some are degraded on the way, particularly those administered by the oral route
So we need to understand the route of admin to know how much of the drug we should administer to achieve a certain therapeutic level
What are two examples of drug delivery designs?
Transdermal drug delivery device
Ocular implant
What are the important components of a transdermal drug delivery device?
Reservoir- contains the lactose and drug
Adhesive layer- attaches to the skin
Rate controlling membrane- controls the speed of drug release from the reservoir to the skin
What else do you have to consider when designing a transdermal drug delivery device?
The different layers of the skin.
The device is designed so that the drug is delivered at a controlled rate through the skin, which is then absorbed
What are the vital components of an ocular implant?
Conductive polmers- conduct electricity with drugs loaded within them
Rechargeable port- so patient can go to the doctor to get the implant recharged
What are the advantages of an ocular implant?
It is a really small device which provides medication for AMD
The patient only needs to go once to get the implant, which contains enough information for treatment for 6 months
The rechargeable port enables the patient to visit the doctor to get the implant recharged, when necessary
We are also currently designing a wifi system to enable the doctor to design the dosage
What does pharmaceutics involve? (Traditionally, and now)
Mixing a biologically active entity and additives to make a formulation which is suitable, safe, and effective for the patient
What are the advantages of an oral administration route?
Popular
Simple
Frequently used
Safe and convenient for patient
Can be used for systemic or local effects
GIT provides large surface area for absorption
Cheap
What are the disadvantages of the oral administration route?
Drug effect is slow as it requires drug to be in solution phase in order to be absorbed
Some drugs interact with food, can cause adverse effects
Some drugs are sensitive to the low pH environment of the stomach
For drug to have effect it needs to survive acidic conditions as well as enzymatic attack
First pass metabolism is another issue
Drugs may cause unpleasantness, irritation
Oral route is too slow for emergencies,
Cannot be administered to unconscious patients
What is an example of drugs, administered orally, which act locally?
Digestive antacids
What is an example of a drug that interacts with food?
Tetracycline forms a complex with calcium.
So when taking tetracycline, need to avoid milk as complex formation prevents absorption
What is an example of a drug that is sensitive to the low pH environment of the stomach, and therefore cannot be taken orally?
Insulin.
So it is not given orally in its pure form
What is first pass metabolism?
When the drug is absorbed through the GIT and goes directly to the liver.
some of the active drug is metabolised, resulting in a reduced bioavailability
What is the general anatomy of the GIT?
6m long tract
Most of which is muscular
Includes the oesophagus, stomach and large and small intestines
Irregular structure and folds are mechanisms which increase the surface area for absorption
What is the majority of epithelium of the GIT covered in?
Mucous layer- lubricates GIT, eases passage of food and protects GIT from enzymatic degradation and digestion
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the oesophagus?
+ it has a fast transit time
- if patient has swallowing injury, drug cannot be taken orally
What is the stomach divided into?
Fundus: consisting of acid secreting cells
Body:
What substance is all over the stomach?
Mucous, which contains sodium bicarbonate to neutralises HCl to protect stomach tissue.
Is the stomach an absorptive organ?
No it is a digestive organ, and a reservoir which jolds food.
How does the stomach work?
Depending on the nature of the food we take, it releases or moves food in a controlled manner to the duodenum via a controlled sphincter
What foods travel through the stomach quickly?
Liquids pass through the stomach quickly, however oils do not pass as quickly
Is the area of the stomach always the same?
No it can be as low as 50mL in fasting state, and can expand to 1.5L when filled with food