Biodisposition of Xenobiotics

Recommended Prerequisites

Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Human Physiology, Human Pathophysiology.

Teaching Methods

• lectures

• online quizzes at the end of each module (formative assessment)

• problem solving-based theoretical-practical classes; analysis and discussion of scientific papers; search, presentation and discussion of selected themes

Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

•Describe the concepts of xenobiotic, drug, toxic and medicine and understand the phases involved in drug development

•Identify the routes of xenobiotic entrance into the organism and understand and describe the processes and factors involved in their biodisposition.

•Understand the processes involved in the xenobiotic cycle in the organism to predict their influence on drug action.

•Understand the basic mechanisms of drug action and their relation with disease; use appropriate methods to quantify drug-target interactions and to compare the potency and efficacy of different drugs.

•Identify the major factors that determine intra- and inter-individual variability in drug response and understand the mechanisms, pharmacodynamic and/or pharmacokinetic, through which they act and their therapeutic implications.

•Understand the importance and applications of Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Notions of xenobiotic, drug, toxic and medicine. Farmaco-therapeutic drug classification. Biodrugs and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products: gene and cell therapies.

2. Xenobiotic cycle (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) in the organism and factors affecting it. Notion of drug biodisposition, bioavailability and bioequivalence.

3. Concentration vs time curves and their interpretation. Apparent Volume of Distribution, Total Plasma Clearance, Elimination Constant and Plasma Half-life. Repeated dosing and steady state mean plasma concentration.

4. Molecular targets of drug action, types of drug-target interaction and their quantification; parameters to compare the potency and efficacy of drugs.

5. Factors that determine intra- and inter-individual variability in drug response through pharmacodynamic and/or pharmacokinetic mechanisms. Drug interactions. Concepts and applications of Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics.

Head Lecturer(s)

Alexandrina Maria Ferreira Santos Pinto Mendes

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Resolution Problems: 12.5%
Mini Tests: 12.5%
Exam: 75.0%

Bibliography

• Artigos científicos (a indicar)

• Clementi F, Fumagalli G (eds.) General and Molecular Pharmacology. Principles of Drug Action. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2015. ISBN: 978-1-118-76857-0

• Infarmed / Ministério da Saúde, Prontuário Terapêutico, 13ª edição e edição online, Infarmed, Março de 2013

• Rang, Dale, Ritter & Flower. Rang & Dale's, Pharmacology. Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier, 10th Edition, 2007. ISBN:

• Welling P.G. and Balant L.P. (eds.) Pharmacokinetics of drugs. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, Vol. 110. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1994. ISBN 3-540-57506-5