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Unit of study_

PHAR5714: Pharmaceutics and Formulations

2025 unit information

In this unit of study students learn to evaluate the physicochemical principles, design, formulation, and manufacture of pharmaceutical dose forms. The formulation of liquid dose forms including parenteral, nasal, ophthalmic and aural products is discussed. Related topics such as diffusion and dissolution of drugs, drug solubilisation, surface and interfacial tension, surface active materials, micelle formation, pharmaceutical complexes and drug-packaging interactions are covered. Other topics covered in this unit include biomaterials; solid dose forms and particle science that comprise tableting and capsule technology; rheology, freezing point depression, osmosis, dispersion dose forms including suspensions, colloidal dispersions, and emulsions; topical dose forms and semisolids; inhalation pharmaceutical aerosols; medicinal cannabis, biologics, vaccines and their formulations; rectal products; novel drug delivery technologies. Aspects pertaining to the stability of dose forms are also presented in this unit.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Medicine and Health

Study level Postgraduate
Academic unit Pharmacy
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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6 credit points of Biochemistry, 12 credit points of Chemistry, 12 credit points of Pharmacology, 12 credit points of Physiology

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. (critically) examine scientific evidence, both quantitative and qualitative, in order to arrive at evidence-based conclusions
  • LO2. demonstrate an understanding of the body as a complex adaptive biological system
  • LO3. identify sources of drugs, the way they are discovered, purified, characterised and analysed, and their physico-chemical properties
  • LO4. demonstrate a working understanding of fundamental concepts and techniques of chemistry necessary for understanding drug analysis, delivery, drug action and therapeutics, and diagnostics
  • LO5. demonstrate an understanding of the mechanisms of action and the properties drugs display as biologically active molecules in living systems
  • LO6. apply appropriate numeracy skills to the solution of pharmacy problems
  • LO7. evaluate evidence for safety, quality, efficacy, and cost effectiveness of prescriptions and other orders for medicines
  • LO8. demonstrate the ability to learn independently and work effectively and cooperatively as a member of a learning team

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2024
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2025
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2020
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.