MATCHING DELIVERY SYSTEMS TO THERAPEUTIC REQUIREMENTS - A PROBLEM-SOLVING EXERCISE FOR THE PHARMACEUTICS LABORATORY

A laboratory exercise has been developed in which students work togeth er in small groups to solve a therapeutic challenge. They are asked to research an assigned topic involving a disease state and prepare a li st of three attributes that should receive priority in design of the r elevant delivery system. Part of the assignment is to identify a comme rcial product with the same drug and intended use and see how well thi s product satisfies the previously chosen pharmaceutic requirements. S tudents are required to prepare written reports and make oral presenta tions within their own lab sections. The presentations are attended by approximately 20 students, two teaching assistants, and the professor in charge. Through their own work and from the presentations of other groups, students are expected to learn to connect the properties of d rug delivery systems with therapeutic goals. Especially important is i dentification of the factors affecting drug delivery, taking into acco unt the disease state, delivery route and drug properties. Student opi nion of the exercise, based on a sample of the class, has been highly positive. While there have been differences in the quality of student performance, the general level has been high and some presentations we re truly outstanding.