Pharmacology By: Kunwal Nasrullah and Badrul Islam Dr. Mark G. Klang Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Harlem Children ’ s Center

What is Pharmacology? Pharmacology is the study of how chemical substances interact with living systems. This field includes: Drug composition, interactions, toxicology, and therapy

Pharmacology (Contd.) Pharmacologists study four aspects of drugs: Absorption-How is the medicine absorbed? Distribution- How is the medicine spread throughout the body? Metabolism-Is the medicine converted into other chemicals in the body? Excretion-How is the medicine eliminated from the body?

Basic Principles of Pharmacology Absorption (Pharmaceutical Phase)- Through the skin, intestinal tract, intravenously, mouth, or inhalation (nasal mucosa) Organ systems involved: Circulatory Respiratory Excretory Digestive

Basic Principles of Pharmacology (Contd.) Distribution Dependent upon tissue permeability, blood flow, perfusion rate of the tissue, drug binding of plasma proteins and tissues.

Basic Principles (Contd.) Metabolism  Chemical conversion of medication inside the body into substances.  Things that pharmacologists consider:  The activity of by-products. (Toxicity)  Almost all drugs are xenobiotics.

Basic Principles (Contd.) Excretion Elimination of medicine (through urine, bile, breath, skin).

Pharmacological Devices HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) pH meter UV Spectrofometer Refractometer

Future Research Examination of drugs in health foods (protein shakes, vitamins, etc.). Testing compatibility and stability of generic drugs aimed at treating cancer and its side affects with Dr. Klang.

References    abcs_figure1.jpghttp:// winter05/images/abcs_figure1.jpg abcs_figure1.jpghttp:// winter05/images/abcs_figure1.jpg  cs/excretion/enterohepatic.gif cs/excretion/enterohepatic.gif

Acknowledgments  Dr. Mark G. Klang  Harlem Children Society and Dr. Sat Bhattcharya  Sloan Kettering Cancer Center