POLIMERI DI INTERESSE FARMACEUTICO

The aim of the course is to provide the student with the fundamental concepts concerning the structure and behavior of polymeric materials and the main techniques and equipment that allow to determine their technological characteristics and chemical properties; Illustrate an overview of the most important synthetic and natural polymeric materials used in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields.

Frontal lessons. Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

Information for students with disabilities and / or SLD: To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on the teaching objectives and specifications needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP contact person (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the Department of Biomedical and Biotechonological Sciences.

Attendance to the course is compulsory and is acquired by attending at least 70% of the lessons

Introduction to polymers

Linear, branched and cross-linked polymers. Homopolymers and copolymers. Tacticity. Thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers. Glass transition temperature. Average molecular weight of polymers.

Outline of polymerization reactions: polycondensation, radical polymerization, ionic polymerization, Ziegler-Natta polymerization, copolymerization.

Physico-chemical and mechanical properties of polymers: rheology, elasticity, viscosity, calorimetric studies.

Classification of synthetic, semi-synthetic and natural polymers

Polyolefins, polyesters, polyacrylates, polysiloxanes, PEGs, cellulose and derivatives, other polysaccharides.

Biodegradable polymers, polymer degradation mechanisms.

Characterization of polymers

Introduction to chemical, structural, thermal and spectroscopic analysis techniques (light scattering, gel permeation chromatography, viscometry, XRD, optical and electronic microscopies, DSC, TGA, IR, UV-VIS).                        Group laboratory exercise on some main characterization techniques of polymers and / or polymeric systems: Thermal characterization (DSC); Physico-chemical characterization (dynamic light scattering; UV-VIS).

Applications of polymers in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields

Polymers for gastro-resistance: polyacrylates (Eudragit).

Polymers for the controlled release of drugs through different routes of administration: matrix, reserve, subcutaneous implants, ocular inserts, transdermal, (micro- and nanoparticulate systems).

Hydrogel: structure, degree of swelling.

Polymeric prodrugs.

Examples of polymeric devices for biomedical application.

Pharmaceutical packaging

Polymeric materials used for the manufacture of containers for pharmaceutical use

1. FW Billmeyer Jr - Textbook of polymer science.

2. AIM (Associazione Italiana di Scienza e Tecnologia delle Macromolecole) Macromolecole Scienza

e tecnologia, Volume I, Edizioni Nuova Cultura.

3. AIM (Associazione Italiana di Scienza e Tecnologia delle Macromolecole) Macromolecole Scienza

e tecnologia, Volume II, Pacini editore, Pisa.

4. Material provided by the professor

Oral examination.

Verification of learning can also be carried out remotely, if the conditions should require it.

• Morphological analysis of polymers
  
• Viscosity of polymers
  
• Natural polymers