Categories: Medicinal Chemistry >> Molecular Modelling

Fundamentals of Medicinal Chemistry

Description

Provides a concise introduction to the chemistry of therapeutically active compounds, written in a readable and accessible style.
The title begins by reviewing the structures and nomenclature of the more common classes of naturally occurring compounds found in biological organisms. An overview of medicinal chemistry is followed by chapters covering the discovery and design of drugs, pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism, The book concludes with a chapter on organic synthesis, followed by a brief look at drug development from the research stage through to marketing the final product.

The text assumes little in the way of prior biological knowledge. relevant biology is included through biological topics, examples and the Appendices.

Incorporates summary sections, examples, applications and problems
Each chapter contains an additional summary section and solutions to the questions are provided at the end of the text
Invaluable for undergraduates studying within the chemical, pharmaceutical and life sciences.

Editorial Review

Gareth Thomas has understood how to write a book that uses simple words to bring interested new students - be it chemistry or pharmacy - closer to terms and concepts of medicinal chemistry. Medicinal chemistry - the field that relies on both synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular modeling - is particularly well suited to conveying a broader view of chemistry. "Fundamentals of Medicinal Chemistry" succeeds in doing this particularly impressively.

The book lays the foundations on the subject of biochemistry ("Biological Molecules"), on the subject of drugs and their effects; shows how drug development works, defines the structure-activity relationship (SAR, QSAR) and briefly deals with molecular modeling and combinatorial chemistry. The treatment of pharmacokinetics and metabolism is consistent, because active ingredients can not only be trimmed for activity in the early phases of development, but also for additionally desired properties (e.g. water solubility). The book does not go into detail, but gives a feeling for the development of active ingredients. In a few words it is clearly described which points must be considered in the active ingredient design in order to reach the goal faster. The book arouses curiosity about the "how" and therefore serves as a stepping stone to specialist literature and university lectures.

First-year students who are interested in medicinal chemistry or who want to find out more about the areas in which they can later work as a chemist are recommended to take a look at the book.

Contents

1. Biological Molecules.
2. An Introduction to Drugs and Their Action.
3. An Introduction to Drug Discovery.
4. The SAR and QSAR Approaches to Drug Design.
5. Computer Aided Drug Design.
6. Combinatorial Chemistry.
7. Selected Examples of Drug Action at some Common Target Areas.
8. Pharmacokinetics.
9. Drug Metabolism.
10. An Introduction to Lead and Analogue Syntheses.
11. Drug Development and Production.
Appendix 1. Sickle-cell Anaemia.
Appendix 2. Bacteria.
Appendix 3. Cell Membranes.
Appendix 4. Receptors.
Appendix 5. Transfer through Membranes.
Appendix 6. Regression Analysis.
Appendix 7. Enzymes.
Answers to Questions.
Selected Further Reading.
Index.