Medicinal and Biological Chemistry BSc

This module builds on your previous studies in chemistry and provides a firm foundation in topics including:

• atomic and molecular structure
• the shapes of molecules
• chemical bonding
• Lewis structures
• molecular shape and symmetry
• Intermolecular interactions and periodic trends in the properties of the elements of the s- and p-blocks
• the chemistry of the transition metal elements and their coordination complexes.

You’ll attend two lectures per week for this module.

In this module you will learn about the development of quantum theory and the spectroscopy of the hydrogen atom. You will examine the theories used to describe the bonding in molecules and will develop an understanding of microwave and infra-red spectroscopies.

The module also introduces you to some of the key concepts in thermodynamics including enthalpy, entropy and free energy and their application in describing equilibria and electrochemical processes. You will develop an understanding of the key concepts in reaction kinetics. 

You’ll attend two lectures per week for this module.

You’ll examine the fundamental principles of organic chemistry. This will include nomenclature, bonding concepts, orbitals and the shape, stereochemistry and acid-base properties of organic molecules.

Later the module will focus on reactivity and important reactions and transformations in organic chemistry.

You’ll attend two lectures per week for this module.

This module introduces you to the essential laboratory skills that are required in inorganic, organic and physical chemistry.

You’ll spend around eight hours per week in laboratory practicals performing experiments, and collecting and analysing data.

You’ll present written reports of your experimental work that will form part of the assessment for this module.

You’ll follow this introductory module right at the start of your course. It is designed to develop your study skills so that you can work effectively at University.

The module will also introduce you to first-year undergraduate laboratory chemistry.

You’ll spend around four hours in your first week in practical sessions studying this module.

This module is for those who already with A level maths will teach you the essential mathematic skills required for chemists. You will learn how to use your maths skills to solve a variety of problems in chemistry.

There will be two hours of lectures per week with a one hour workshop.

In this module, you will be introduced to the physiology of major systems such as cardiovascular, nervous, and musculoskeletal, including some aspects of drug action. This module will allow you to understand your biochemical and genetics knowledge in the context of the intact organism. This module includes lectures and laboratory classes.

You’ll learn about Nature's building blocks including the structure and functions of lipids, amino acids, carbohydrates and nucleotides. You'll also learn about the reactivity of these molecules and their biological roles through case studies.

In this module you’ll look at green chemistry in its broadest sense, covering the fundamental concepts and chemistry involved in making chemical processes cleaner and more environmentally benign.

You’ll spend one hour per week in lectures, seminars and workshops over the whole year studying this module.

This module will introduce you to selected topics at the forefront of current research in chemistry from a physical chemistry perspective.

Example topics include:

• nanochemistry and its applications
• energy generation and storage technologies
• chemistry in the digital age
• the chemistry of ions
• the application of advanced photon sources

You’ll gain a firm understanding of the use of mathematical equations in a chemical context through the study of topics including: scientific notation and significant figures; common chemical units and conversions between them; the rearrangement of chemical expressions and their graphical representation; trigonometry, differentiation and integration, and differential equations for chemical problems.

This module is compulsory for students not offering A level mathematics (or equivalent); optional for students offering A level mathematics or equivalent.

To provide students with a basic knowledge of the main mathematical techniques required in following a Chemistry-based course. Topics are:

• functions of single variable
• differential calculus of a single variable
• integral calculus of a single variable
• first-order ordinary differential equations
• elementary probability and statistics

You’ll spend two hours per week in lectures studying topics including the synthesis, bonding and reactivity of organometallic compounds, the use of symmetry and group theory to interpret infra-red spectra and NMR spectroscopy in inorganic chemistry.

Further support is provided by tutorials every third week.

In this module, you’ll discuss the reactivity of, suggest synthetic routes for and interpret the spectroscopic characterisation of organic compounds including some natural products.

Topics studied include:

• modern spectroscopic techniques
• carbon-carbon bond forming reactions
• the influence of heteroatoms on reactivity

You’ll attend two lectures each week in this module and tutorials every third week.

This module builds on the practical, analytical and communication skills developed in the first year and introduces experiments across the range of chemistry, based on your second year theory modules.

You’ll spend around 10 hours per week in practicals for this module. 

In this module you'll study  the physical principles underlying chemical phenomena, with emphasis on energy, quantum mechanics and spectroscopy. You'll also be introduced to solid-state chemistry, including the structure, characterisation, energetics and the band theory of solids.  

You’ll attend two hours of lectures each week in this module. 

Primary objective of the module

This module will examine in depth the analysis of drug action, and its application to the design and use of current therapeutics.

Module content

This module will examine in depth the analysis of drug action, and its application to the design and use of current therapeutics. We will define what drugs are, the different ways they act at the cellular and molecular level, and pharmacokinetic principles underlying drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination.   This framework will provide the basis to explore the rationale and goals of treatment for clinical therapeutic case studies.  These will highlight major current challenges to human health – in cardiovascular and respiratory disease, diabetes and obesity, CNS disorders, cancer and infectious disease.  Overall, the student will develop a deep understanding of what the discipline of pharmacology represents, and its application to both basic biological research and current and future medical advances. 

The fundamental building blocks of life are essential for life as we know it but what exactly are they and how can this aid us in the development of medicinal drugs? This module will provide you with the fundamental concepts in molecular biology, medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, enabling you to understand the mode of action of anti-cancer agents, antibiotics and toxins.  

You’ll study: 

• Molecular Processes in Cells, including Cell Signalling, DNA replication, Transcription, Translation, Protein Folding, Protein Transport and Protein Degradation
• Analysis of Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Data 
• Cell Cycle, Cancer and Apoptosis
• Microbiology, including anatomy of bacterial cells and action of antibiotics 
• Viruses and viral diseases, as well as anti-viral agents studied in case studies 

 You’ll attend two lectures each week for this module. 

The aim of this module is to provide you with an understanding of coordination chemistry in the context of macrocyclic, supramolecular and bioinorganic chemistry and its applications in metal extraction and synthesis.

You will gain an appreciation of the importance of metals in biological systems, and be able to explain the relationship between the structure of the active centres of metallo-proteins and enzymes and their biological functions.

The module is assessed by a two-hour written exam.

To provide a fundamental understanding of molecular structure and of the requirements for reactivity.

To introduce modern electronic structure theory and demonstrate how it can be applied to determine properties such as molecular structure, spectroscopy and reactivity.

This module will introduce you to a range of reagents and synthetic methodology. You will learn how to describe how it is applied to the synthesis of organic target molecules.

By the end of the module you will know how the use of protecting groups can be used to enable complex molecule synthesis and how modern palladium-mediated cross-coupling reactions can be used to synthesise useful organic molecules.

Your problem-solving and written communication skills will be developed.

Use of frontier molecular orbital analysis to explain and predict stereochemical and regiochemical outcomes of pericyclic reactions (Woodward-Hoffmann rules etc).

Examples will be drawn from Diels-Alder reactions, cycloadditions [4+2] and [2+2], [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements (eg Claisen and Cope), [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements (eg Wittig and Mislow-Evans).

Generation and use of reactive intermediates in synthesis (ie radicals, carbenes, nitrenes).

This course aims to teach the relationship between structure and properties of solids, structure of Solids and characterisation.

It aims to teach a general introduction to Interfaces and Surfaces.

For the project, you will put into practice methods of accessing, assessing and critically appraising the chemical literature. The module will provide experience in experimental design and methodology, the recording, analysis and reporting of physical data (both in written and verbal form).

What influence does a chemist have in the modern drug discovery process? And how can chemists use their knowledge to aid the development of new therapeutics? In this module you will apply knowledge of how chemical structures influence drug potency, pharmacokinetics, and their safety. You will gain insight onto the developmental process of designing a drug and their action once they have reached their desired target.

You’ll study: 

• Drug Targets and How They Bind 
• Measuring Drug Activity 
• Lead Compounds and Strategies for Improving Drug Potency and Selectivity 
• Pharmacokinetics (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Elimination) 
• Drug Design in a Safe Manner  
• Desired Drug Properties  

Students should gain a good appreciation of the applications for a range of enzymological, chemical and molecular biological techniques to probe cellular processes and catalysis at the forefront in chemical biology research.

This module represents a culmination of principles and techniques from a biophysical, molecular, biochemical and genetic perspective.

This module will develop an understanding of protein structure, stability, design and methods of structural analysis. In addition you will understand the protein folding problem and experimental approaches to the analysis of protein folding kinetics and the application of site-directed mutagenesis.

You will also be expected to develop a number of spectroscopic experimental techniques to probe protein structures.

There will be two hours of lectures a week.

This module focuses on the molecular biology that drives the fundamental principles behind the survival of microorganisms and their interaction with humans.

Lectures will discuss the interaction between the host and pathogens and how they drive the mechanisms of infection and immunity.

There will be two hours of lectures a week.

A general introduction to lasers, including laser radiation and its properties will be given.

A number of current laser spectroscopic methods will be reviewed, which allow the determination of vibrational frequencies and structures.

Examples will cover ground and excited state neutral molecules, radicals and complexes, as well as cations of these.

An introduction to modern diffraction methods will be given, involving neutrons, electrons and X-rays.

Applications will cover solids (crystalline and amorphous), liquids and gases.

Throughout, there will be extensive examples from the research literature.

This module aims to facilitate

(i) awareness of the types, frequency and range of individual genetic variation in proteins linked with disease prevalence and drug action
(ii) evaluation of pharmacogenetic evidence using pre-clinical case studies in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, and cancer
(iii) in depth understanding of the major class of GPCRs in man, and their wider roles as drug targets, through a focus on polymorphisms in these receptors and related proteins
(iv) evidence based understanding of the scientific challenges, risks and benefits of targeting such polymorphic variants therapeutically to deliver future medical advances.

To introduce the students to the issues surrounding the use of complementary and alternative medicines, including legal issues, safety issues, and interactions with drugs.