Analytical Methods for Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies

A.Y. 2024/2025
7
Max ECTS
64
Overall hours
SSD
CHIM/01 CHIM/08
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The primary goal of this course is to introduce the basic concepts, principles, and techniques of modern analytical chemistry, providing students with both an analytical mindset and the skills to efficiently solve various analytical problems related to pharmaceutical biotechnologies from both a quantitative and qualitative perspective. The aim is to offer adequate preparation that enables students to identify the various components of a drug, both during production and in the final stage, while also considering the accuracy and precision required for such analytical results.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Understand and recognize various analytical methods, both traditional and instrumental;
2. Understand the role of chemical processes in quantitative analysis;
3. Understand the broad role of chemists in measurement and problem-solving in the field of analytical chemistry;
4. Gain a deep understanding of the different methodologies used for the analysis of elements and various compounds within a sample.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The topics included in the module "Elementi di chimica analitica e strumentale" are:
-Analytical Chemistry: basic concepts
- Ionic atmosphere, Ionic equilibria in aqueous solutions, ionic strength, activity coefficients, Debye-Huckel equation, Le Chatelier principle
- Principles of electrochemical thermodynamic
- Acid-base equilibrium: buffers, buffer capacity, indicators
- Coordination compounds.
- Oxidation/reduction reactions: electrode potentials, Nernst equation
- Volumetric titrations (precipitation, acid-base, complex formation, oxidation/reduction)
- Potentiometric methods: junction potential, reference and indicator electrodes, calibration, membrane potential, transference numbers
- Potentiometric titrations
- Conductimetry and related titrations

For the module "Analisi dei farmaci biotecnologici" the topic of characterization of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) will be used as a "comprehensive educational path" to teach the most popular analytical techniques and the methodological approaches used for the characterization of latest generation biopharmaceuticals by:
-Liquid chromatography
-Gel and capillary electrophoresis
-Absorption and emission UV-Visible spectroscopy
-Mass spectrometry
Fundamentals of:
-Hyphenation of the analytical techniques
-Sample preparation and purification
will be treated as well.
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of the fundamentals of chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry.
Teaching methods
The course is divided into classroom lectures, in which the topics are illustrated both with slides and by carrying out exercises on the blackboard. At the end of the course, an educational experimental laboratory is organized in which the students, organized in small groups, carry out four different experiences concerning both traditional and instrumental quantitative analysis.
Teaching Resources
Skoog, West, Holler, Crouch, Fondamenti di Chimica Analitica. EdiSES. (3° ed. italiana 2015)

Antibody-Drug Conjugates, Methods and Protocols, edited by L.NathanTumey (2020), ebook available at the university online library service, ISBN: 1-4939-9929-X; 1-4939-9928-1.

Analytical Characterization of Biotherapeutics (capitoli 1,2 e 7), edited by Jennie R. Lill and Wendy Sandoval (2017), ebook available at the university online library service, ISBN: 1-119-38442-7; 1-119-38443-5; 1-119-05310-2.

Slides of the lessons available on Ariel website of the course
Assessment methods and Criteria
The knowledge of the topics reported in the course's program will be evaluated by means of a two hours-written test consisting of two questionnaires.
The first questionnaire is aimed at verifying the knowledge of the topics concerning the module of "Elementi di chimica analitica strumentale" and the second questionnaire is aimed at verifying the knowledge of the topics concerning the module of "Analisi dei farmaci biotecnologici".
In the first questionnaire the student is asked to solve one-to-two exercises and answer three-to-four theory questions. In the second questionnaire the student is asked to answer five theory questions, five questions concerning analytical approaches for the characterization of biopharmaceuticals and five questions concerning the interpretation of data collected from instrumental analysis of biopharmaceuticals.
The final course's grade will be the arithmetic mean of the grades of the two questionnaires.
CHIM/01 - ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 4
CHIM/08 - PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 3
Single bench laboratory practical: 16 hours
Lessons: 48 hours
Shifts:
Turno 1
Professor: Arnaboldi Serena
Turno 2
Professor: Arnaboldi Serena
Professor(s)
Reception:
First floor, Building A, Chemistry Department