MODERN PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGIES - 2025/6

Module Overview

The purpose of this module is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of modern pharmaceutical technologies, their concepts, importance, advantages and challenges.  In addition, regulations surround the manufacturing process and the use of advanced digital developments (Continuous Manufacturing) and monitoring (Process Analytical technologies (PAT)) to assure quality is built (Quality by Design (QbD)) into the product during the manufacturing process. This module develops the key knowledge and skills related to the production of pharmaceuticals and is the foundation for many science projects associated with this degree.

Module provider

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Module Leader

ANTONIJEVIC Milan (Chst Chm Eng)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

The module will cover material taken from the following subjects:

 

Topics in pharmaceutical processing shall cover the following topics and how they can influence final product quality, function and stability: raw materials, their properties, function and testing prior to use, powder handling, mixing and flow, milling, granulation and drying; compaction and tabletting, coating, supercritical fluids, lyophilisation, spray-drying, pre-formulation consideration (e.g. pKa, log P, solubility) and testing (e.g. phase solubility).

 

Advanced manufacturing technologies, including continuous manufacturing, and flexible manufacturing. The application of digital technology in manufacturing: such as digital twin, sensor technology. Manufacturing 4.0 – digitalisation, with a specific application in solid dosage forms as well as dry powder inhalers.

 

Furthermore, regulations surrounding the manufacturing process such as cGMP  

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate that they have successfully met the learning outcomes of the module.

 

  Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

 

• Laboratory report 1, collect, interpret, critically analyse and present the experimental data related to attended practical classes, (addresses learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3 and 5)


• Laboratory report 2, collect, interpret, critically analyse and present the experimental data related to attended laboratory sessions this report must be on a different practical class than one used for laboratory report 1 (addresses learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3 and 5)


• Students will complete coursework covering the range of material related to pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies discussed in lectures and workshops. The coursework will be designed to test their knowledge (understanding, applications and problem-solving) of presented material (addresses learning outcomes: 1, 3 and 4)

 

Formative assessment:

Informal formative assessment is conducted throughout the module during practical sessions, workshops and online where students have the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities and to receive both peer and tutor feedback, to allow students to assess their progress week by week.

 

Feedback:

Feedback and feedforward on summative assignments will be provided via SurreyLearn. This will indicate what students did well, less well, and what they need to do to improve in the future and will relate both to issues specific to the module and to transferable skills. Formative feedback will be provided throughout the module through in-class discussions and activities, and workshops.

Module aims

• ¿ Introduce students to the common processes employed in the pharmaceutical industry, which may also be found in other sectors.
• ¿ Equip students with a systematic understanding of the principles of pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• ¿ Enable students to act autonomously and as a part of the group in planning and implementing critical analysis at a professional level.
• ¿ Develop key knowledge related to the identification of the problems associated with established technologies and highlight new alternatives to established processing procedures or dosage form formulations.
• ¿ Familiarise students with current technologies used in pharmaceutical product development and manufacture that can also be an integral part of many other industries.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Enable students to develop knowledge, skills, and critical thinking in relation to pharmaceutical manufacturing through lectures, workshops, practical sessions, study examples, videos, active learning/discussion sessions, and online resources.


• Allow students to work individually and collectively to achieve analytical outcomes that mirror those commonly experienced in a work environment.


• To maximise learning by encouraging students to be actively engaged in critical evaluation, decision-making, negotiation, evaluation of information, and the application of theory to practice, to address challenges and solve problems faced by pharmaceutical scientists.

Students will learn the principles of pharmaceutical manufacturing technology in relation to the formulation of different dosage forms. They will learn how pharmaceutical manufacturing ‘fits’ within the wider pharmaceutical sciences. Furthermore, the learning and teaching strategy is designed to develop student’s confidence and competence in working with others, digital capabilities, leadership, teamwork, communication skills, employability, and professionalism.

To achieve this, learning and teaching methods will include lectures, workshops, practical sessions, study examples, videos, active learning/discussion sessions, and online resources. Collectively, these methods will combine guided learning, independent learning, and self-reflection. The lectures will introduce and explain key concepts, theories, and core aspects of the practical application of the issues discussed. The practical sessions will provide students with the opportunity to be active participants in their learning experience by undertaking interactive exercises and group discussions, demonstrating their acquired understanding and knowledge, critical thinking, and communication skills. In order to build confidence and to engage students with diverse learning backgrounds, students will be encouraged to share their thoughts, ideas, and reflections, including those relating to their own experiences.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: CHEM046

Other information

Surrey's Curriculum Framework is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following area:

 

Employability: This module will provide students with the core pharmaceutical skills related to pharmaceutical production and formulation development. Students will be exposed to and will have in their possession the latest and best available information relating to modern pharmaceutical technologies and final dosage form/product development, a proportion of which will have been delivered by external speakers, giving students direct access to professionals currently working in the field and thereby supporting their future career planning for roles in pharmaceutical sciences. This will hold clear benefits in relation to their employability as they progress to their employment or the year in the industry. Transferable skills will be addressed as the module allows students to further practice wider attributes that will be attractive to employers in this field. The focus of the assessment strategy will help to prepare students for the realities of the world of work because it allows them to be familiar with work ethics, reporting and how different technologies are utilised in the wider context of formulation development.

 

Global and Cultural: Students will be exposed to the important aspects of globalization through many examples stating the diversity and dependence of the global market on the raw materials as well as how the formulation of the final dosage form may depend on the climate zone of the target country. Furthermore, diverse audiences will make cultural diversity agenda easier to promote, discuss, explain and practice through the module group tasks.

 

Sustainability: Students will develop their appreciation, understanding and critical thinking focused on the use of green synthetic routes for raw materials, careful selection of the available technologies and how the transition from 5-6 step production to continuous development may not only improve the overall sustainability of production but also lower or remove environmental hazards. These aspects will be discussed with students during experimental work but also introduced in lectures. Students will also develop their awareness and understanding of Sustainable manufacturing through the application of digital technology and optimisation, and advanced manufacturing processes, to reduce waste, and energy consumption as well as improve manufacturing efficiency.

 

Digital skills: Modern technologies are often closely monitored and aided by IT. Students will be exposed to several IT tools/software that aim to aid the development of more sustainable production i.e. continuous manufacturing and digital twins, while at the same time supporting the development of process analytical technology (PAT). Providing students with hands-on experience will help them develop digital skills with industry-standard software. The laboratory reports will provide the opportunity to deliver a fully formatted technical report, applying transferrable skills in digital production.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.