The field of pharmaceutical science requires the integration of key concepts from both chemistry and biology. As part of a new degree program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, I have designed a series of laboratory activities to complement lecture concepts in pharmaceutics, genetics, and nanomedicine that allow students to develop the ability to generate, interpret, and analyze data. Students begin the labs by exploring concepts of solubility, diffusion, and permeability using decalcified eggs, followed by use of a Franz diffusion chamber to see how drugs are able to transit this membrane over time. Building upon the increased familiarity with the lab, we next explore how GST metabolism is affected by both biological sex, and pH, using male and female mouse liver cytosol and the UV detection of substrate metabolites. The third lab introduces concepts from pharmacogenomics with the students having the opportunity to extract their own DNA and see the correlation between their ability to taste bitter compounds and the SNPs present in their TAS2R38 gene. The fourth and fifth labs introduce concepts from nanomedicine with students first preparing liposomes using extrusion techniques and analyzing their liposomes? physical properties and loading efficiencies. The next lab has students assist with the preparation of liposome encapsulated siRNA using a microfluidic chip-based system, and the subsequent use of these particles to knock down expression of GFP expressed in HEK cells. This ties back into lecture content where they have covered the production and use of siRNA drugs like the anti-cancer medication patisiran. These labs help to introduce basic lab techniques while reinforcing lecture concepts, helping to prepare students for more advanced lab courses in their third year.
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