Pharmaceutics - The science of medicine design

Taking medication is a common occurrence for many people, whether it is to soothe an aching head, regulate blood sugars, or to treat life threatening conditions, such as HIV or cancer. In the UK alone, over 900 million prescriptions are dispensed every year. Overseeing all of this are pharmacists: experts in medicines and their use.

The Integrated Foundations of Pharmacy series supports those who are at the beginning of their journey to become a pharmacist. The reader will begin to understand how a drug molecule is made; the process that turns it into a medicine; the role the pharmacist has when dispensing that medicine; and what happens in the body when it is taken. Most importantly, the series shows how each of these aspects are integrated, reflecting the most up-to-date teaching practices.

Pharmaceutics: The science of medicine design explores the different forms that medicines can take, and demonstrates how being able to select the best form - be it a tablet, injectable liquid, or an inhaled gas - requires an understanding of how chemicals behave in different physical states.

Online Resource Centre
The Online Resource Centre to accompany Pharmaceutics: the science of medicine design features:

For registered adopters of the book:
- Figures from the book, available to download.

For students:
- Self-assessment questions to help the reader to check and reinforce understanding of the material introduced in each chapter.

Table of Contents

1: Introduction to pharmaceutics
2: Solids
3: Liquids
4: Gases
5: Thermodynamics
6: Acids and bases
7: Phase equilibria and transitions
8: Partitioning and hydrophobicity
9: Surface phenomena
10: Disperse systems
11: Colligative properties
12: Kinetics and drug stability
13: Drug development and delivery