Synthetic Methods in Biotechnology

A.Y. 2025/2026
6
Max ECTS
48
Overall hours
SSD
CHIM/06
Language
English
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the student with elements to understand and evaluate several modern chemical technologies applied to biotechnological and pharmaceutical processes, meanwhile providing also the basic theoretical notions to understand the nature and the impact of such technologies.
Expected learning outcomes
The students will take advantage of this course, by gathering a general perspective regarding the role of synthetic organic chemistry in biotechnological and pharmaceutical research. Among the five selected applications dealt with in the course (protective groups, solid-phase synthesis, combichem & natural products, rational design in drug discovery and phases of pharma research), the student will get information about modern trends for each application, and will become knowledgeable about their scope, their advantages and their limitations.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course aims to provide the student with elements to understand and evaluate several modern chemical technologies applied to biotechnological and pharmaceutical processes, meanwhile providing also the basic theoretical notions to understand the nature and the impact of such technologies.
The students will take advantage of this course, by gathering a general perspective regarding the role of synthetic organic chemistry in biotechnological and pharmaceutical research. Among the five selected applications dealt with in the course (protective groups in organic synthesis, solid-phase synthesis, combichem & natural products, rational design in drug discovery, and research phases of pharmaceutical projects), the student will get information about modern trends for each topic, and will become knowledgeable about their scope, their advantages and their limitations.
The program is divided into five modules, all dealing with advanced synthetic methodologies useful in biotechnology. A first model deals with protective groups in organic synthesis, and is preparing the student to the second module - solid-phase synthesis. The third module deals with the identification, isolation, dereplication and structural determination of natural products from prokaryots, lower and higher eukaryots; the use of natural products in pharmaceutical research, and their usefulness as core scaffolds for the synthesis of natural products-inspired combinatorial libraries is also covered. The fourth module deals with methodologies and principles for the rational design of biologically active molecules, while the last module covers the research process used in drug discovery - target identification and validation, lead discovery and lead optimization.
A large number of detailed examples are used in each module, so to provide a self-explanatory tool to judge the relevance of the topics covered in the SMB course.
Prerequisites for admission
Organic Chemistry I and II successfully passed
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons, bibliographic searches, support material - pdf files and, when needed, pre-registered mp4 recordings for each lesson on the MyAriel Web site, seminars' preparation and delivery in groups (teamwork), critical evaluation of student colleagues.
Teaching Resources
The material presented during the course (21 ppt presentations, saved as pdf files - all shown slides from frontal lessons) is made available to students on the course's MyARIEL site. This material will be enough to properly prepare the exam; additional material (not needed to pass the exam) is also provided for students on the MyARIEL site/course page.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final grade will result from two contributions. A final, two hours' written assay (which could be split in two one our each midterm essays around half (1st) and end of the course (2nd) will consist of 1-2 "open" questions and 3-4 questions with multiple choice answers, and will count - either by averaging the results of midterm assays, or as a single full exam - for the majority of final grade.
CHIM/06 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor: Seneci Pierfausto