- Docente: Mirella Rambaldi
- Credits: 8
- SSD: CHIM/08
- Language: Italian
- Moduli: Mirella Rambaldi (Modulo 1) Mirella Rambaldi (Modulo 2)
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences (cod. 8518)
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, the student should have a good understanding of the mechanistic aspects of the main toxic substances. In particular, the student is able to: - understand the mechanisms of action at the molecular level - learn the chemical-toxicological pollutants of interest.
Course contents
General principles of toxicological chemistry.
Basic principles of biochemistry and organic chemistry useful to understand toxicological chemistry.
Molecular approaches to toxicological chemistry: the concept of biologically active small molecules.
Interactions between molecules: covalent bond, ionic bond, hydrogen bond, pi-pi interaction, van der Waals interaction.
ADME of toxic substances. Xenobiotics metabolism: phase I and phase II reactions.
Interactions between toxic compounds and biological targets (enzymes and receptors): cholinesterase inhibiting pesticides, nicotinoid and neonicotinoid insecticides, pyrethroids, PAH, endocrine disruptors (estrogen and thyroid).
Water, air, and soil polluttants. Accounts of enviromental intoxications. Environmental health factors associated with the problems stemming from contamination of air and water.
Main classes of pharmaceutical, chemical, agro-chemical, and food processing xenobiotics. Origin, usage and molecular mechanism of toxicity.
Toxic metals and their salts. Toxic metallo-organic compounds: chemistry and molecular mechanism of toxicity.
Gaseous and volatile toxic substances: chemistry and molecular mechanism of toxicity.
Toxic organic compounds: chemistry and molecular mechanism of toxicity.
Drugs of abuse: chemistry and molecular mechanism of toxicity of opiates and cannabinoids.
Readings/Bibliography
Stanley E. Manahan, Toxicological Chemistry and Biochemistry, Lewis Publisher, Third Edition 2003.
Slides and lecture notes.
Teaching methods
The course is organized with lectures in class.
Assessment methods
The exam consists of an oral examination. It is designed to verify the knowledge acquired (as detailed in the objectives of the course) and will be passed by the correct answer to several questions related to topics covered during the course, and also includes an illustration of the chemical structure and thetoxicity molecular mechanism of several xenobiotics.
Teaching tools
All the teaching program wiil be explained by PC Powerpoint presentations.
Office hours
See the website of Mirella Rambaldi