M. Pharm – Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Course Outlook

The M.Pharm Pharmaceutical Chemistry program was introduced in 2011 at Al Shifa College of Pharmacy. Pharmaceutical chemistry, a field that bridges various scientific disciplines, remains perennially relevant. The curriculum is designed to equip students for careers in academia and the pharmaceutical industry, while also fostering a path towards advanced studies and research.

In the first year, the syllabus covers a comprehensive range of topics including drug design, advanced medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry, process chemistry, and analytical techniques. Practical exercises are integrated to impart hands on skills in analytical methods, drug synthesis, natural product isolation, physicochemical properties, and separation techniques. Seminars are an integral part of the training, enhancing students’ communication and presentation abilities.

The second year focuses primarily on research. Students are trained in research methodology and biostatistics to support their research works. They actively participate in journal clubs, where they analyze and present papers from peer-reviewed journals. Progress presentations are conducted periodically to assess their research work, culminating in a final presentation and viva voce examination.

Beyond the academic curriculum, emphasis is placed on extracurricular activities such as participation in seminars, conferences, workshops, and training programs at national and international levels. This holistic approach ensures that students not only excel academically but also develop into well rounded professionals ready to make significant contributions to the field of pharmaceutical chemistry.

Unique Selling Points (USP) of the Department

Cutting-Edge Instrumentation: The department is equipped with the most advanced instruments available in any pharmacy college in Kerala, providing our students and researchers with unparalleled access to cutting-edge technology

Comprehensive Drug Design: We specialize in the design of drug-like molecules using industry-standard computational tools and commercial software, offering capabilities that are on par with leading pharmaceutical companies.

Advanced Medicinal Chemistry/Natural Products Lab: Our state-of-the-art medicinal chemistry research lab features facilities comparable to industrial R&D centers, providing a high quality research environment.

Integrated Drug Discovery Process:The department covers all three critical areas of the drug discovery process utilizing advanced techniques, all within a single, cohesive environment.

Expert Biological Evaluation:We offer biological evaluation of drug-like molecules through enzyme-specific assays, ensuring thorough and precise testing.

Research Facilities

The department is at the forefront of scientific innovation, equipped with an advanced research facility that houses a variety of sophisticated equipment and characterization tools. This enables us to conduct cutting-edge research across multiple disciplines. Our state-of-the-art instruments include UV-Visible spectrophotometers, attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectrometers, Monowave synthesizers, rotary flash evaporators, Microplate Photometers, Microplate Washers, and Microplate incubation shakers. We are equipped to conduct reactions under inert gas atmospheres and have additional specialized equipment such as an ice flaker and a digital melting point apparatus, digital hot plates, and other relevant instruments to provide students with hands-on experience. The department also established an enzyme assay and screening facility capable of performing enzyme assays and ELISA tests.

To further our mission in discovering novel therapeutic agents, we have established the Centre for Molecular Simulations and Drug Design. This lab is dedicated to the design of new drugs using advanced computer simulations and commercial software specifically tailored for drug design. The specialized software used in this facility has enabled our researchers to publish their findings in high-impact international scientific journals.

Overall, our department provides a comprehensive and technologically advanced environment for students and researchers, facilitating ground breaking research and the development of new therapeutic agents.

Collaborations

The Department of Pharmacy at our institution engages in active collaboration with a wide range of national and international institutes, cultivating a strong global network of research and academic partnerships. These collaborations have led to the publication of numerous high-quality research papers.

Our esteemed collaborators include the Research Institute of Life Pharmaceutical Sciences at Sunchon National University in Korea, the Instituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS in Milan, and the Dipartimento di Farmacia—Scienze del Farmaco at Universita degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro” in Italy. We also partner with the School of Health Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, the Department of Chemistry at Sri Venketeswara College, University of Delhi in India, and the Department of Botany and Microbiology at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. Additional collaborators include the Department of Pharmacy at Jouf University in Saudi Arabia, and the Department of Pharmacy at the University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara in Italy. We also engage with the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Bharati Vidyapeeth University in India and the Research Center for Advanced Material Sciences at King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia. These collaborations enhance our research capabilities, provide diverse educational opportunities, and contribute to the global advancement of pharmaceutical sciences.

Consultancy Services

Computer aided drug design

  • Specialized in utilizing cutting edge commercial software for precise molecular docking studies.
  • Virtual screening of large database for potential drug candidates based on their binding affinity.
  • Tailored molecular docking simulation studies to analyse ligand receptor interactions, aiding in drug discovery and optimization.
  • Customized pharmacophore modelling for target specific drug design.
  • In silico prediction of Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) properties.
  • Development of robust QSAR models to predict the biological activity of compounds.
  • Rational decision making in lead optimization and compound selection.

Enzyme Inhibitory Assays

  • Comprehensive enzyme inhibitory assays for synthetic and natural products.
  • High quality Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) services for precise quantification of target molecules.
  • Customized enzyme assays tailored to specific project requirements.

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