Applied pharmacology to biotechnology

A.Y. 2024/2025
7
Max ECTS
67
Overall hours
SSD
BIO/14
Language
English
Learning objectives
The course intends to provide students with the most recent applications of biotechology to pharmacology, with emphasis on new biotechnological drugs, drug discovery and individualization of drug therapies on the basis of patients genotype (pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics).
Expected learning outcomes
The students will learn about a selection of methodological approaches to study intracellular signalling pathways that are activated by ligand-receptor interaction in living cells, organotypic slices and entire organisms. When mastered, these techniques (in conjunction with the abilities and the competencies derived from the other courses) will allow the student to have a strong background on high-quality functional assays -based on optical imaging techniques- to study cellular responses triggered by the exposure to specific endogenous agonist or drugs.
The students will learn about up-to-date background knowledge needed for the full comprehension of the rapid progress of biotechnological drugs. Students will understand the evolution of the field with an historical perspective view showing the parallel development that drug and molecular biology fields experienced until their final merging in the new discipline. The protein and nucleic acid engineering, and the application of molecular biology in the generation of innovative therapies will be considered starting from approved biotechnological drugs.
Finally the students will learn about the genetic basis of drug responses, with deep insights into the use of pharmacogenetics for therapy personalization.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
Introduction: definition, history of biotechnology and pharmacology.
Main classes of biotechnological drugs, problems with the production and use of biologics, biosimilars.
Advanced therapies: general concepts, gene therapy: definition, vectors, current drugs in genetic diseases, oncology and future prospective in other therapeutic areas.
Therapeutic proteins: classifications and general concepts, hormones, fusion proteins, monoclonal antibodies, and their evolutions, immunotherapy.
Nucleic acids as drugs: classifications and basic concepts for antisense, ribozyme, aptamer, decoy and siRNA; focus on antisense oligonucleotides and aptamers: mechanism of action and the innovation brought by the last generation of antisense oligonucleotides.
Fluorescent tools for the study of receptors
Molecular properties and applications of fluorescent proteins
Use of fluorescent protein-based biosensors in monitoring ligand-receptor complex formation and downstream intracellular effects
Measuring intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and fluctuations in living cells and neurons
Drugs affecting the actin cytoskeleton dynamics
Genetic basis of individual drug response.
Effects of genetic variants on drug pharmacokinetics
Effects of genetic variants on drug pharmacodynamics
Clinical pharmacogenetics
Prerequisites for admission
Students must possess preliminary notions of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in order to understand the impact of individual genotype on drug response.
Teaching methods
Teachers give lectures for 5 ECTS (35 hours), using PPT presentations which are then deposited on the Ariel website. 2 ECTS (32 hours) are used for laboratory exercises on biotechnology methods used in pharmacology
Teaching Resources
Slides from teachers, original papers
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of independent oral tests, each one with the Professors involved in the course. One of this test will be focused on the practical activities carried out in lab. The evaluation parameters used for each test will be based on the completeness of the knowledge, the capacity for critical reasoning and the appropriateness in the use of specialized vocabulary.
Each test is evaluated in thirtieths, with the possibility of acquiring 33 points in the case of laude. The final result of the test coincides with the rounded arithmetic mean of the oral tests (17.6 = 18; 17.5 = 17). In case of a negative evaluation in one of the oral tests, the score of that test will be 0. The results will be communicated via SIFA.
BIO/14 - PHARMACOLOGY - University credits: 7
Practicals: 32 hours
Lessons: 35 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Friday 10:00-12:30 a.m.
Department of Health Sciences, Via Antonio di Rudinì 8
Reception:
Please contact [email protected] to schedule a meeting
Via Vanvitelli, 32 - 20129 Milano Dept. Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine