Current sources on the studied issues

Defined in the individual study plan of the doctoral student and in the Study Regulations of FPHARM CU.

The doctoral student will obtain the rating completed with credit value after successfully defending the dissertation thesis. Fulfillment of required conditions according to regulations and submission of dissertation thesis.

Slovak language, in case of the consent of the dean and the consent of the chairman of the commettee of the doctoral study on the proposal of the doctoral student also in another world language, preferably English.

1) The doctoral student will prepare a dissertation thesis. Through the dissertation, the student demonstrates the ability and readiness for independent scientific and creative activity in the field of research or development or for independent theoretical and creative activity. It should be characterized by a high degree of analysis and synthesis of knowledge, as well as a sufficient overview of the existing literature. The work must be original, created by the author in compliance with the rules of working with information sources. The school work must not have the character of plagiarism, nor must it infringe the copyrights of other authors. The author is obliged to thoroughly cite the information sources used, to name the specific and specific research results of other authors or authors, by citing the relevant source, to accurately describe the methods and working procedures of other authors or collectors, to document laboratory results and field research of other authors or collectives. The citation technique is guided by the practice in the given scientific field, respecting the relevant standards and norms. 2) The doctoral student will briefly state the essential content of his / her dissertation, its concept, results and contribution in the defense of the dissertation. 3) The doctoral student will take a position on the opinions of the opponents, in particular he will comment on all objections and comments and answer their questions. 4) During the discussion, the doctoral student will answer all questions and take a stand on all suggestions and objections of its participants.

after a successful defense he / she will obtain a title PhD.

Current sources on the studied issues

Defined in the individual study plan of the doctoral student and in the Study Regulations of FPHARM CU.

The doctoral student will obtain the rating completed with credit value after successfully passing the dissertation exam with the result passed

Slovak language, in case of the consent of the dean and the consent of the chairman of the commettee of the doctoral study on the proposal of the doctoral student also in another world language, preferably English.

1) The dissertation examination consists of a part consisting of a discussion of the written work for the dissertation examination - project proposal.

2) The dissertation examination consists of a part in which the doctoral student has to demonstrate theoretical knowledge in the specified subjects of the dissertation examination.

3) The subjects of the dissertation examination consist of the main subject and secondary subjects according to the characteristics of the study program of the doctoral degree in the field of study.

At the dissertation exam, the student must demonstrate not only knowledge of the specified subjects of the exam, but also the ability under the supervision of the supervisor to submit a dissertation project proposal, method of solving experimental procedures, ability to form conclusions based on results and defend their project proposal before a committee of the doctoral study.

Chackalamannil, S., Rotella, D., & Ward, S. (2017). Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry III, 3. Vyd. Elsevier, Amsterdam, Holandsko, 4536 s.

Patrick, G.L. (2017). An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry. 6. Vyd. Oxford University Press, New York, USA, 832 s.

Remko, M. (2019). Základy medicínskej a farmaceutickej chémie, 3. Vyd. Remedika, Bratislava, SR, 480 s.

Roche, V.F., Zito, S.V., Lemke, T.L., & Williams, D.A. (2019). Foye´s Principles of Medicinal Chemistry, 8. Vyd. Wolters Kluwer Health Adis (ESP), Baltimore, USA, 1168 s.

Silverman, R.B., & Holladay, M.W. (2015). The Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action. 3. Vyd. Elsevier, Waltham, USA, 521 s.

Wermuth, C., Aldous, D., Raboisson, P., & Rognan, D. (2015). The Practice of Medicinal Chemistry. 4. Vyd. Academic Press (Elsevier), San Diego, CA, USA; Kidlington, Oxford, Veľká Británia, 903 s

Successful passing of the exam

Slovak language

Lecturers: prof. RNDr. Peter Mikuš, PhD, prof. Ing. Vladimír Frecer, DrSc., doc. PharmDr. Ivan Malík, PhD., doc. Mgr. Fils Andriamainty, PhD., Dr.h.c. prof. RNDr. Jozef Čižmárik, PhD., doc. PharmDr. Miroslava Sýkorová, PhD., PharmDr. Vladimír Garaj, PhD.

Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry is a science unto itself, a central science positioned to provide a molecular bridge between basic science of biology and clinical science of medicine (analogous to chemistry being the (central) science between traditional disciplines of biology and physics). From a very broad perspective, a drug design may be divided into two phases fundamental concepts about: a) drugs, receptors, and drug–receptor interactions; b) drug–receptor interactions applied to human disease. Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry is interdisciplinary, drawing very suitably on Theoretical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, and Biochemistry. Despite these complexities, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry has its own clear line – the design and discovery of drug molecules with a comprehensive and precise definition and characterization of their properties, taking into account i) structural integrity of the drug molecules (in pharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic phase, respectively), ii) their structural fragments (pharmacophore, toxicophore, metabophore, biophore, etc.; interchangeable bioisosteres), iii) structural properties, iv) physicochemical features (solubility, surface activity, acid-base and lipohydrophilic properties, stability), v) shape properties (geometric, conformational, topological, steric), vi) stereochemical properties (optical isomers, enantiomers, geometric isomers), estimation of binding affinities (in vitro ligand binding assays) and impact of the drugs - enantiomers and isomers to relevant biological targets), vii) electronic properties. Following that knowledge, structure–biological activity relationships and/or structure-pharmacokinetics relationships and/or structure-toxicity relationships are comprehensively investigated (SAR, STR, QSAR).

Expansion and intensification of knowledge from pharmaceutical chemistry the can be used by the student to formulate scientific hypotheses to create a basis for the analytical part of the dissertation and to formulate conclusions following the obtained results.

• Mikuš, P., Piešťanský, J., Dokupilová, S.: Kvapalinová chromatografia, hmotnostná spektrometria a ich kombinácie vo farmaceutickej a biomedicínskej analýze, VEDA, Bratislava, 2018. 365s.

• Mikuš, P., Piešťanský, J.: Kapilárna elektroforéza, hmotnostná spektrometria a ich kombinácie vo farmaceutickej a biomedicínskej analýze, VEDA, 2014. 310 s.

• Mikuš, P., Maráková, K.: HYPHENATED ELECTROPHORETIC TECHNIQUES IN ADVANCED ANALYSIS, Bratislava, KARTPRINT, 2012. 217 s.

• Tekeľ, J., Mikuš , P.: Vybrané kapitoly z analytickej chémie. Analýza látok v biologických systémoch. Bratislava : UK, 2004, 192 s.

• Mikuš, P., Hanko, M., Piešťanský, J., Maráková, K., Dokupilová, S., Mikulová, M.: Analytical chemistry: Instrumental analysis. Bratislava : VEDA, pripravuje sa.

• Havránek, E. a kol.: Laboratórne cvičenia z analytickej chémie III. Fyzikálno-chemické metódy. Bratislava : UK, 2007. 91 s.

• Světlík, J.: Molekulová spektroskopia a optické metódy. Bratislava : UK, 2006. 81 s.

• Labuda, J. a kol, Analytická chémia, Bratislava, STU v Bratislave, 2019, 682 s.

• Magulová, L.: Metodický list racionálnej farmakoterapie 15./16., Terapeutické monitorovanie hladín liečiv, Ročník 5, Číslo 1-2, 2001. (plus citovaná literatúra)

• Vedecké publikácie registrované v databáze Web of Science: kľúčové slová: Mikus (author), Comenius (Address), amino acids, biogenic amines, thiopurines (Topic)

Successful completion of the exam.

Slovak language, English language

Teacher: prof. RNDr. Peter Mikuš, PhD., PharmDr. Juraj Piešťanský, PhD.

The basic concepts/terms, principles, methodological and clinical aspects, validation and application areas of the master's curriculum are continuously supplemented with current knowledge/findings and solutions to the problems of analytical monitoring of drug levels in practice.

 Introduction to the issue

 Clarification of the term “therapeutic drug monitoring”

 Importance of TDM in clinical practice (current state of the issue)

 Analytical aspects in TDM

 Pharmacological aspects in TDM

 Monitoring the levels of biologically active substances for toxicological, doping and forensic analysis

 Groups of therapeutically monitored drugs

 Drugs with a narrow therapeutic range

 Drugs with a well-defined relationship between drug concentration and effect (therapeutic or toxic)

 Drugs with large inter- or intra-individual differences in drug distribution or clearance

 Distribution of drug groups (by effect)

 Antibiotics with nephrotoxic and ototoxic effects (aminoglycosides amikacin, gentamicin, netilmicin, tobramycin, polypeptide antibiotic vancomycin)

 Cardiovascular drugs (cardioglycosides: digoxin, antidysrhythmics: quinidine)

 Antiepileptics (carbamazepine, ethosuximide, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, valproic acid)

 Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine)

 Antiasthmatics (theophylline)

 Immunosuppressants (cyclosporin A, tacrolimus, azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine)

 Cytostatics (methotrexate)

 Groups of other monitored substances

 Diagnostic biomarkers - endogenous substances

 Low molecular weight organic substances (amino acids, carboxylic acids, biogenic amines, lipids, etc.)

 Inorganic ions (metal cations, anions)

 Biomolecules (proteins, e.g., enzymes, antibodies)

 Toxic and prohibited substances (doping, drugs, poisoning) and drugs applied without the consent of a doctor (self-treatment) - exogenous substances

 Commercial drugs (clenbuterol, ivermectin, etc.)

 Experimental drugs (SARMS, etc.)

 Illegal synthetic preparations (heroin, etc.)

 Natural toxins (amanitin, botulinum toxin, etc.)

 Collection and processing of biological material

 Sampling (method, time intervals), steady state, number of samples, residual and peak concentration vs. toxicity and therapeutic effect

 Sample processing (sample type, sample preparation before analysis, sample preparation techniques / methods - protein precipitation, extraction, derivatization, protein cleavage, etc.)

 Sample storage

 Methods of biological material analysis

 Development (optimization), validation and application of analytical methods, advantages and limitations of analytical methods

 Spectral methods

 Electrochemical methods

 Separation methods (chromatographic, electromigration)

 Hyphenated separation and spectral or electrochemical methods

 Separation methods with on-line sample preparation

 Immunochemical methods: radioimmunoassay (RIA), immunoenzyme methods (EIA, EMIT, ELISA, FPIA, MEIA, CMIA)

 Interpretation of analytical results

 TDM: Interpretation of serum drug concentrations in the context of all clinical data (related areas: pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs)

 Diagnosis of diseases: correlations of levels of individual biomarkers or biomarker profiles in comparison groups (monitoring of changes in datasets of health vs patients)

 Toxicological, anti-doping, forensic analysis: monitoring of levels of monitored substances, limit concentrations

 Statistical evaluation of the analytical results

 Validation parameters according to the used validation protocol

 Validation protocols: FDA, ICH

 Hypothesis testing (Student's t-test, ANOVA)

 Use of therapeutic drug level monitoring data:

 Objective: to ensure maximum efficacy of drugs, to reduce the risk of drug toxicity, to maintain the concentration of drugs in the so-called "Therapeutic range"

 Monitoring of treatment of chronically and critically ill patients with altered drug clearance with a narrow therapeutic range, patients with different drug pharmacokinetics (elderly, children)

 Adjust batch modes (regimes)

 Optimization of therapy using pharmacokinetic programs (population-kinetic data)

 Determining patients' compliance with treatment

 Identification of drug toxicity risks (reduction of toxic drug reactions)

 Reduction of treatment costs

 Reducing the need for emergency procedures and hospitalizations

 Shortening the length of hospitalization

 Application areas - solved examples:

 TDM of thiopurines in the optimization of therapy of patients with non-specific inflammatory bowel diseases

 Monitoring of carboxylate levels in connection with the diagnosis and therapy of cancer patients

 Monitoring of Prohibited Substance Levels (Clenbuterol, SARMS) in connection with doping control

Reliable identification and quantification of drugs in biological systems are essential steps to understand the mechanisms of their action in a living organism. Drug concentration levels are an important indicator of the therapeutic process at the molecular level, usable in optimizing the treatment management of individual patients.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is recommended and performed for (i) drugs with a narrow therapeutic range, (ii) drugs with a well-defined relationship between drug concentration and effect (therapeutic or toxic), (iii) drugs with large inter- or intra-individual differences in drug distribution or clearance. Integral components of TDM are (I) collection and processing of biological material, (II) development, validation and application of analytical methods, and (III) processing and interpretation of analysis results. Interpretation of TDM results requires adequate knowledge of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the monitored drugs and their association with the patient's clinical data. Thus, for the successful implementation of TDM in clinical practice, it is necessary to combine theoretical knowledge and practical aspects of methods of clinical analysis and clinical pharmacology. In a broader context, monitoring of biologically active substance levels is also carried out in the areas of disease diagnosis, toxicology, doping control, forensic analysis and other practical areas. The graduate of the course will gain knowledge related to the development and application of analytical methods and procedures usable in solving the tasks of the above areas of pharmaceutical practice.

The doctoral students will expand and deepen their knowledge of the latest findings in the field of analytical monitoring of drug levels in practice in connection with the relevant analytical methodology and clinical aspects of the analyzed substances. They will be able to apply the acquired knowledge in practice at various levels of activity in connection with optimization of therapeutic procedures, early diagnosis of diseases, assessment of patient compliance, assessment of intoxication or presence / levels of banned, narcotic and psychotropic substances in the biological system in cooperation with physicians, clinical, diagnostic, toxicological, anti-doping or forensic laboratories.

Brunton LL, Hilal-Dandan R, Knollmann BC et al. Goodman & Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 13e, McGraw-Hill Education 2018

Golan D. E., Tashjian Jr A. H.., Armstrong E. J., Armstrong A. Wet al. .: Principles of Pharmacology: The Pathophysiologic Basis of Drug Therapy, 3rd 4th Edition. Lippincott Williams&Wilkins, 20172

Katzung BG, Vanderah TW et al. : Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 15e, McGraw Hill 2021

Rang, H.P., Dale, M.M. a kol.: Rang and Dale´s Pharmacology, 7th ed. London, Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier, 2012

Ritter JM. et al.: Rang and Dale's Pharmacology E-Book, Elsevier, 9th ed., 2018

Successful passing of the exam

Slovak language, English language

Lecturers: prof. PharmDr. Adriana Ďuriš Adameová, PhD.; prof. PharmDr. Ján Klimas, PhD., MPH.; doc. Peter Křenek, PhD.; doc. PharmDr. Anna Paul Hrabovská, PhD.; doc. PharmDr. Marek Máťuš, PhD.; Mgr. Peter Vavrinec, PhD.; Mgr. Diana Vavrincová, PhD

The focus is on one or more of the following areas of pharmacology:

- pharmacodynamics with respect to the mechanism of action of drugs

- pharmacokinetics

- pharmacogenomics

- adverse effects of drugs

- drug overdose

- therapeutic use of drugs

Special pharmacology

- pharmacology of drugs with effect on the central nervous system

- pharmacology of drugs with effect on the autonomous nervous system

- pharmacology of drugs with effect on the smooth muscles

- pharmacology of drugs with effect on the cardiovascular system and kidneys

- pharmacology of blood, inflammation

- pharmacology of drugs with effect on the respiratory system

- pharmacology of drugs with effect on the gastrointestinal system

- pharmacology of drugs with effect on the endocrine system

- pharmacology of anti-infective drugs

- pharmacology of anticancer drugs

- new directions of therapy of diseases using biological drugs

Expansion and intensification of knowledge from pharmacology the can be used by the student to formulate scientific hypotheses to create a basis for the analytical part of the dissertation and to formulate conclusions following the obtained results.

Chalabala, M. a kol.: Technologie léků. 3. vyd. Praha: Galén, 2006. 399 s. Žabka, M. a kol: Moderné lieky vo farmaceutickej technológii. Bratislava: SAP, 1999. s.487 European Pharmacopoeia 10 th Ed. Strasbourg: EDQM, 2022 Aulton, M. E.: Aulton´s Pharmaceutics: the design and manufacture of medicines - Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2018 Mikušová, V.; Mikuš, P.: Advances in Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 9652. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22179652

Successful passing of the exam

Slovak language, English language

Lecturers: PharmDr. Veronika Mikušová, PhD., PharmDr. Juraj Piešťanský, PhD., doc. RNDr. Miroslava Šupolíková, PhD.

Pharmaceutical preparations are of a dosage (application) form which depends on the means of administration and coexistence of relevant drugs and excipients. Pharmaceutical technology (galenics) deals with composition, formulation, production, evaluation, and quality assurance of individually prepared and manufactured pharmaceutical preparations. It studies conditions for formulation of drugs and excipients into pharm. preparations, rules governing these processes, relations of the preparation with the effect of contained drugs. The subject of the study are these areas: - Pharm. preparations as systems composed of drugs and excipients (constitutive, stabilizing, corrective, etc.), conditions for coexistence of components in pharm. preparation. - Procedures and devices for preparation and manufacturing of pharm. preparations - Evaluation and quality assurance of pharm. preparations in terms of composition, technology, structure - Relations between the pharm. preparation and bioavailability of administered drugs - Stability of pharm. preparations and its possible ensuring - Containers ‘materials, technique for pharm. preparations ‘containers, study of interactions between containers and drugs / excipients Current research is oriented to drug carriers (polymeric, lipid - liposomes) in the role of drug delivery systems as nanoparticles. It begins with the synthesis of the carrier, incorporation of the drug, continues with formulation of dosage form, stability studies of formulated particles and in vitro drug release study. At the end of this difficult process the biologic activity and in vivo bioavailability are evaluated in cooperation with other departments/institutions. Also, nanodispersion systems as e.g., micro- and nanoemulsions are studied, especially related to low soluble drugs (e.g., terbinafine, minoxidil, indomethacin, tretinoin) intended for topical application with local or systemic effect e.g., also using the mechanisms of transdermal passage. In the preparation of these systems, various types of polymers (e.g., chitosan, thermosensitive polymers) and specific excipients are used to create a specific structure of given formulation with improved properties (e.g., better bioadhesion, stability, capacity to release the low soluble drugs, improved permeation, and penetration to target tissues in required concentration).

By passing the course, the PhD. student will have a complex theoretical knowledge of drugs as dispersion and application systems in terms of theoretical and practical preparation of innovative dosage forms.

Obložinský M. a kol.: Molekulárna biológia účinku liečiv a biotechnológia pre farmaceutov.

1. vyd. Bratislava: Univerzita Komenského, 2010.

Clark D.P. a Pazdernik N.J.: Biotechnology. Oxford: Academic Cell 2016.

Daan J. A. Crommelin, Robert D. Sindelar, Bernd Meibohm: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Cahm: Springer 2019.

Clark D.P. a Pazdernik N.J.: Biotechnology. Oxford: Academic Cell 2016.

Daan J. A. Crommelin, Robert D. Sindelar, Bernd Meibohm: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Cahm: Springer 2019.

Passing of the exam.

Slovak language, English language

Teacher: doc. Mgr. Andrea Bilková, PhD.; doc. PharmDr. Marek Obložinský, PhD.; RNDr. František Bilka, PhD.; Ing. Ľudmila Pašková, PhD.

- Biological drugs - definition, characterization, classification.

- Methods of recombinant DNA in biotechnology.

- Application of recombinant DNA in the biopharmaceuticals production. Cloning and expression vectors.

- Design and production of biological drugs I. Up-stream processes.

- Design and production of biological drugs II. Down-stream processes.

- Molecular-technological aspects in the field of biological drugs. Methods of quality control and analysis. Methods increasing the efficiency and stability of biologicals. Biosimilars.

- Plant biotechnology in pharmacy.

- Protein based biologicals I - recombinant enzymes, hormones, growth factors, cytokines and interferons.

- Protein based biologicals II - recombinant vaccines.

- Protein based biologicals III - monoclonal antibodies.

- Biomedical engineering. Principles and mechanisms of gene therapy. Nucleic acid-based biological drugs.

- Cloning - reproductive and therapeutic..

- Dispensing biopharmaceutical products. Economic consideration and legislative.

Passing the course, the PhD. student will expand his/her knowledge about the possibilities of drug preparation using current biotechnological procedures, based on the manipulation of nucleic acids and using recombinant DNA. Emphasis is placed on the up-stream and down-stream phase of the production process. The student will get acquainted with different types of cloning and expression vectors and their application in the production of specific biopharmaceuticals (e.g. r-hormones, r-cytokines, r-vaccines, r-enzymes and r-monoclonal antibodies). The course will also provide information on the actual therapeutic trends, such as gene therapy, therapeutic cloning and the use of stem cells in the treatment of specific diseases.

• Hansen, S.H., Pedersen-Bjergaard, S.: Bioanalysis of Pharmaceuticals: Sample preparation, separation techniques and mass spectrometry, Wiley, Chichester, 2015. 318s.

• Xu, A.Q., Madden, T.L.: LC-MS in drug bioanalysis, Springer, New York, 2012. 476s.

• Lill, J.R., Sandoval, W.: Analytical characterization of biotherapeutics, Wiley, Chichester, 2017. 368s.

• Mikuš, P., Piešťanský, J., Dokupilová, S.: Kvapalinová chromatografia, hmotnostná

spektrometria a ich kombinácie vo farmaceutickej a biomedicínskej analýze, VEDA, Bratislava, 2018. 365s.

• Mikuš, P., Piešťanský, J.: Kapilárna elektroforéza, hmotnostná spektrometria a ich kombinácie vo farmaceutickej a biomedicínskej analýze, VEDA, 2014. 310 s.

Successful passing of the exam

Slovak language, English language

Lecturers: doc. PharmDr. Juraj Piešťanský, PhD.

1. Introduction to the issue.

2. Basic characterization and specifics of bioanalysis. Bioanalysis in pharmaceutical industry. Bioanalysis in hospital environment. Bioanalysis in toxicology and antidoping laboratories.

3. Physicochemical properties of drugs – small molecules, biopolymers.

4. Biological samples – composition and properties. Blood, urine, other biological material.

5. Sample preparation strategies for bioanalysis – protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid phase extraction (SPE), dilute and shoot approach, alternative strategies.

6. Analytical approaches in bioanalysis:

a) Chromatography – gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, ultra high-performance chromatography

b) Electrophoresis – gel electrophoresis, capillary zone electrophoresis, isotachophoresis, capillary isoelectric focusing

c) Mass spectrometry and its combination with separation techniques – GC-MS, LC-MS, CE-MS

d) Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)

e) Immunochemical methods

7. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation in bioanalysis. Validation. Validation guidelines for bioanalytical methods – FDA, EMA, ICH.

8. Pharmacokinetics aspects of drugs analysis in biological fluids.

9. Analysis of small-molecule drugs in biological fluids.

10. Analysis of peptides and proteins in biological fluids.

11. Characterization of biologics and their analysis in biological fluids.

12. Perspectives and future trends in bioanalytical chemistry.

Bioanalytical chemistry is a subdiscipline of analytical chemistry that involves the separation, detection, identification and quantification of biological samples in different settings. It often involves the study of molecules such as proteins, peptides, DNA and classic drugs. By its nature and focus, bioanalytical chemistry is an integral part of biomedical and clinical laboratories, as well as the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, it is an important and stable part of natural science and medical environment.

Knowledge of the behavior of drugs in a living organism (pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic aspects) is essential for rational pharmacotherapy of a patient. One of the key aspect of bioanalytical chemistry in the pharmaceutical environment is its implementation into the field of development of new drugs – small molecules but also biopolymers (peptides, proteins, ADC conjugates), and in the determination of their pharmacokinetic profile. Development of new efficient and safety drugs demands monitoring of specific target molecules (e.g. endogenous low-molecular metabolites or biopolymers), whose occurrence or the specific level in the biological compartment is closely related to the emergence and progression of diseases. Bioanalytical chemistry helps in targeted designing of drugs with a specific site (i.e. receptors) of intervention, or by affecting a specific molecule. Ultimately, the importance of bioanalytical chemistry can be seen in identification of specific biomarkers, which are important in early diagnosis, and the resulting rational pharmacotherapeutic intervention in the treatment process. In a broader context, bioanalytical chemistry is implemented into the field of disease diagnostics, toxicology, doping control, forensic analysis and other practical areas. The graduate of the course will gain knowledge and technical skills for a career in bioanalysis, biomedicine, biotechnology, clinical science, or pharmaceutical science.

Uhríková D. a kol.: Biofyzika – Vybrané kapitoly. Bratislava: UK, 2015. 239 s.

Prosser V. a kol.: Experimentální metody biofyziky. Praha: Academia, 1989. 716 s.

Lacinová Ľ., Uhríková D.:Biofyzika napäťovo závislých iónových kanálov. Bratislava: UK, 2010. 62 s

Ottová-Leitmannová, A.: Základy biofyziky. Bratislava: Alfa, 1993. 384 s.

Serdyuk I.N., Zaccai N.R., Zaccai J.: Methods in Molecular Biophysics. Structure, Dynamics, Function. Cambridge University Press, 2007

Hrazdira, I., Mornstein, V., Škorpíková, J.: Základy biofyziky. Brno: Neptun, 2006. 312 s.

Rosina, J., Vránová, J., Kolářová, H., Stanek, J.: Biofyzika. Praha: Grada, 2013. 224 s.

Záthurecký, L., Chalabala, M., Janků, I., Modr, Z.: Biofarmácia a farmakokinetika, Martin, Osveta, 1989. 561 s.

Successful passing of the exam

Slovak language, English language

Lecturers: prof. RNDr. Daniela Uhríková, CSc.; prof. Ing. V. Frecer, DrSc.; Mgr. Mária Klacsová, PhD.

The subject builds upon the knowledge from physics, mathematics and physical chemistry and is linked with additional chemical, biological and pharmaceutical areas.

The scope of the subject:

Cell, its structure and methods of study. Biological macromolecules – nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and polysaccharides. Biophysical aspects of cell membrane. Lipid membranes, cholesterol and rafts, their role in the cell. Polymorphic behaviour of lipids. Transport of drugs in the body. Models of pharmacokinetics. Membrane channels. Biophysics and pharmacology of voltage dependent membrane channels. Methods of study of membrane channels. Diseases caused by mutation of membrane channels. Lipid bilayer as a model system for interactions with antimicrobial and antiviral agents. Antimicrobial peptides and antibiotics. Antivirals and mechanism of their activity. Computer design of drugs. Pulmonary surfactant, interactions with pathogens and drugs. Gene therapy and methods for nucleic acid delivery. Biopolymers and dendrimers in drug delivery. Anaesthesia and solitons.

PhD students will acquire knowledge about physical processes and mechanisms at the level of tissues, cells and molecules at physiological and pathological conditions. Biophysical aspects of molecular interactions with cell’s receptors, and drug delivery through the cell membrane is emphasized.

Atkins, P. W.: Fyzikálna chémia: časť 1, 2a, 2b, 3. Bratislava: STU 1999.

W.J. Moore: Fyzikální chemie, SNTL, Praha 1981

Chalabala a kol. Technológie léku, Galén, 1997

Cevc G.: Phospholipids handbook. Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York 1993.

Kováč Š, Leško J.: Spektrálne metódy v organickej chémii, Bratislava, Alfa, 1980.

Serdyuk I.N., Zaccai N.R., Zaccai J.: Methods in Molecular Biophysics. Structure, Dynamics, Function. Cambridge University Press, 2007.

Allen, J. P.: Biophysical Chemistry, Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, 2008.

Successful passing of the exam

Slovak language, English language

Lecturers: prof. RNDr. Daniela Uhríková, CSc.; prof. Ing. V. Frecer, DrSc.; Mgr. Mária Klacsová, PhD.

The subject builds upon the knowledge from physics and mathematics and is linked with additional chemical, biological and pharmaceutical areas. The scope of the subject:

Structure of matter. The stability of elements, radionuclides in pharmacy. Chemical bonds and interactions.

Thermodynamics, phase transitions, partition equilibria, condensed systems.

Electrochemistry, solutions of electrolytes, acid-base equilibria.

Chemical kinetics, reaction rates and orders, mechanism of chemical reactions. Catalysis, enzymatic catalysis. Kinetics of drug release from drug formulae. A substance transport in the biological system.

Colloidal systems and dispersions, surface phenomena, membrane phenomena. Biological membranes as a model system for interaction with antimicrobial and antiviral agents. Lipids in drug delivery. Lyotropic and thermotropic polymorphism of lipids and methods for its study. Lipid-based nanoparticles (liposomes, hexosomes, cubosomes) in targeted drug delivery. Biopolymers and dendrimers in drug delivery.

Experimental methods: UV-VIS, fluorescence, IR, Raman, NMR spectroscopy, diffraction and scattering, DSC calorimetry, mass spectrometry.

PhD students will acquire theoretical background for understanding of physicochemical principles necessary for the preparation of various drug formulae in the field of pharmaceutical technology, the drug binding and its release from the formulae, mechanism of drug action at molecular level, drug absorption, transport across biological membranes. Physical background of experimental methods used for development of new drugs and mechanisms of their action is emphasized.

C. Altavilla, E. Ciliberto: Inorganic Nanoparticles. Synthesis, Applications, and Perspectives, CRC Press (2010).

P. Prasher, M. Sharma: Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Functionalization and Applications, Bentham (2022).

K. Abd-Elsalam (Ed.): Green Synthesis of Silver Nanomaterials, Elsevier (2021).

R. Chang: General Chemistry: The Essential Concepts, McGraw Hill; 7. vydanie (2013).

C. Housecroft, A. Sharpe: Inorganic Chemistry, Pearson, 5. vydanie (2018).

Successful passing of the exam

Slovak language, English language

Lecturer: doc. Ing. M. Pisárčik, CSc.

A prerequisite for successful completion of the course is basic knowledge of inorganic chemistry, colloidal chemistry and physical chemistry, mathematics, organic chemistry and molecular biology.

The subject of the study within the scope of the course is represented by the following areas:

- Definition of nanoparticles and nanosystems. Description of nanoparticle structure.

- Synthesis of nanoparticles. Physical, chemical and biological methods of preparation of nanoparticles.

- Green synthesis of nanoparticles. Description of biological sources for the synthesis of nanoparticles – bacteria, fungi, algae, plants. Correlation of physical properties of nanoparticles with biological sources for the preparation of nanoparticles.

- Physical properties and parameters of nanoparticles. Surface plasmon resonance.

- Analysis of physical parameters of nanoparticles: size, shape and charge. Description of experimental techniques – spectroscopic methods (UV-VIS and Raman spectroscopy), scattering methods (light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering), imaging methods (transmission and scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy).

- Nanoparticle stabilisation, description of mechanism. Polymers and surfactants as nanoparticle stabilisers. Classification, properties.

- Biological activities of nanoparticles. Antimicrobial and antineoplastic activity of nanoparticles. Description of the mechanism of action. Correlation between biological activity and size and shape of nanoparticles.

- Areas of nanoparticle applications in general. Application areas of nanoparticles in medicine and pharmacy. Toxicity of nanoparticles.

After completing the course, PhD students will acquire systematic knowledge in the modern field of nanoparticles. They will get an overview of the methods of nanoparticles preparation, including green way of synthesis of nanoparticles, investigations of their physical properties, experimental techniques and methods associated with the characterisation of properties of nanoparticles. They will gain knowledge of the classification and properties of various types of nanoparticle stabilisers, as well as will be provided with a basic overview of nanoparticle applications in a wide variety of fields with an emphasis on applications in pharmacy and medicine.