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Glossary of Pharmaceutics

Here is the related vocabulary words/terms grouped in Pharmaceutics.

Abrasive

An agent that rubs off an external layer, such as dental plaque i.e. pumice.

Acid-fast Stain

A stain that differentiates cells that have waxy mycolic acids in their gram-positive cell walls

Acidic Dye

a chromophore with a negative charge that attaches to positively charged structures

Acne

A skin disease in which hair follicles or pores become clogged, leading to the formation of comedones and infected lesions

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (aids)

Disease caused by HIV, characterized by opportunistic infections and rare cancers

Actin

A protein that polymerizes to form microfilaments

Activation Energy

Energy needed to form or break chemical bonds and convert a reactant or reactants to a product or products

Activator

Protein that increases the transcription of a gene in response to an external stimulus.

Active Carrier

An infected individual who can transmit the pathogen to others regardless of whether symptoms are currently present

Active Immunity

Stimulation of one’s own adaptive immune responses.

Acute Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney, probably resulting from deposition of immune complexes and an autoimmune response caused by self-antigen mimicry by a pathogen.

Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis

A severe form of gingivitis, also called trench mouth.

Acute Otitis Media

Inflammatory disease of the middle ear resulting from a microbial infection.

Addison Disease

autoimmune disease affecting adrenal gland function

Adenine

purine nitrogenous base found in nucleotides

Adenosine Diphosphate (adp)

nucleotide derivative and relative of ATP containing only one high-energy phosphate bond

Adenosine Monophosphate (amp)

adenine molecule bonded to a ribose molecule and to a single phosphate group, having no high-energy phosphate bonds

Adenosine Triphosphate (atp)

energy currency of the cell; a nucleotide derivative that safely stores chemical energy in its two high-energy phosphate bonds

Adhesion

the capability of microbes to attach to host cells

Aerobic Respiration

use of an oxygen molecule as the final electron acceptor of the electron transport system

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

a method for separating populations of DNA molecules of varying sizes by differential migration rates caused by a voltage gradient through a horizontal gel matrix

Agglutination

binding of different pathogen cells by Fab regions of the same antibody to aggregate and enhance elimination from body

Agranulocytes

leukocytes that lack granules in the cytoplasm

Algae

any of various unicellular and multicellular photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms; distinguished from plants by their lack of vascular tissues and organs

Allergen

antigen capable of inducing type I hypersensitivity reaction

Allergy

hypersensitivity response to an allergen

Allosteric Activator

molecule that binds to an enzyme’s allosteric site, increasing the affinity of the enzyme’s active site for the substrate(s)

Amino Acid

a molecule consisting of a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, and an amine group bonded to the same carbon. The group bonded to the carbon varies and is represented by an R in the structural formula

Aminoacyl-trna Synthetase

enzyme that binds to a tRNA molecule and catalyzes the addition of the correct amino acid to the tRNA

Aminoglycosides

protein synthesis inhibitors that bind to the 30S subunit and interfere with the ribosome’s proofreading ability, leading to the generation of faulty proteins that insert into and disrupt the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane

Amoebiasis

intestinal infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica

Amoebic Dysentery

severe form of intestinal infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica, characterized by severe diarrhea with blood and mucus

Amphipathic

a molecule containing both polar and nonpolar parts

Anabolism

chemical reactions that convert simpler molecules into more complex ones

Anaerobe Jar

container devoid of oxygen used to grow obligate anaerobes

Anaerobic Respiration

use of a non-oxygen inorganic molecule, like CO2, nitrate, nitrite, oxidized iron, or sulfate, as the final electron acceptor at the end of the electron transport system

Annealing

formation of hydrogen bonds between the nucleotide base pairs of two single-stranded complementary nucleic acid sequences

Antibody

Y-shaped glycoprotein molecule produced by B cells that binds to specific epitopes on an antigen

Anticodon

three-nucleotide sequence of a mature tRNA that interacts with an mRNA codon through complementary base pairing

Eutectic Mixture

When two more substances are mixed together, they liquefy due to the formation of a new compound which has a lower melting point than room temperature. This type of mixture is called a eutectic mixture and substances are called eutectic substances. 

Gel

Colloidal system with a finite, usually rather small yield stress.

Gene Therapy

Use of products containing genetic material (e.g., pDNA, antisense DNA, siRNA) to treat a disease or condition, or to modify or manipulate the expression of genetic material or to alter the biological prop- erties of living cells. 

Generic

Drug(s) or formulation(s) of drug(s) or dosage forms, which no longer have patent protection. 

Granulation

Process in which powder particles are made to aggregate to larger particles called granules.

Granules

Powder particles, which have been aggregated to form larger irregular particles, usually of 0.5–2 mm diameter. 

Hydrate

Crystalline form of a compound in which water molecules are part of the crystal structure. 

Hydrophile–lipophile Balance System

Empirical scale (of 0–20) used to classify surfactants and emulsifying agents. 

Hydrophilicity

Tendency of a molecule to be solvated by water. 

Hydrophobicity

Property of being water-repellent; tending not to absorb water. 

Hygroscopicity

Tendency of a substance to absorb water from the atmosphere.

Immediate-release Tablet

Dosage form that releases the drug immediately.

Implantation

Insertion or grafting of a biological, living, inert, or radioactive material into the body. 

Implants

Small sterile usually polymeric matrices, pellets, or particles for insertion or implanting into the body by surgical means or by injection to help achieve sustained release. 

Inactivation Factor (if)

Number that expresses the reduction in the numbers of a microorganism, brought about by a sterilization process. 

Inhalation Therapy

Administration of drugs directly to the respiratory tract, mostly by aerosols.

Injection

Delivery of a generally sterile liquid medication into the body, or a vessel, tissue, or organ via syringe and needle. 

Inverted Micelle

Reversible formation of association colloids from surfactants in nonpolar solvents leads to aggregates termed inverted (or inverse, reverse, or reversed) micelles. 

Liniments

Liquid intended for massaging into the skin. 

Liposome

Artificial spherical lipid bilayer droplet formed mainly from phospholipids having a core of water phase, small enough to form a relatively stable dispersion in aqueous media and with potential use in drug delivery.

Loading Dose

Initial, typically larger than the maintenance dose of a drug given to a patient at the start of pharmaco- therapy. 

Lotion

Solution, emulsion, or suspension to be applied to the skin. 

Lozenge

Tablet, which does not contain a disintegrant and which is sucked to dissolve in the mouth to produce either a local (e.g., antiseptic) or systemic (e.g., vitamins) effect. 

Lubricant

Used as processing aid in tablet and capsule manufacturing, to facilitate the movement of the formulation into the dye and punch and to reduce the energy of compression. 

Lyophilic

Denotes a dispersed phase having a pronounced affinity for the dispersion medium.

Lyophobic

Denotes a dispersed phase having but slight affinity for the dispersion medium.

Matrix Formulation

Specific case of drug embedding in insoluble excipients (typically in a polymer) in order to achieve ex- tended release. 

Maximum Additive Concentration

Maximum concentration of a drug, which will form a clear solution with a given concentration of surfactant. 

Maximum Safe Concentration

Concentration of a drug in the plasma, above which side effects are likely to occur in a patient. 

Micellization

Formation of micelles. 

Microemulsions

Emulsions in which the dispersed droplets are in the micron-size range.

Microencapsulation

Formation of microparticles encapsulating a drug.

Microfiltration

Pressure-driven, membrane-based separation process in which particles and dissolved macromolecules larger than 0.1 micrometer are rejected. 

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (mic)

Lowest concentration of an antibacterial drug necessary to inhibit the growth of a microorganism. 

Modified Release

Release of a drug from a dosage form that it is not immediate (e.g., sustained release, retarded release, delayed-action preparations, controlled release, extended release, etc.). 

Moistening Agents

Usually water or low-molecular-weight alcohols or compounds, used in topical applications and in wet granulation, for the production of tablets. 

Multicompartment Formulation

Dosage form (capsule, tablet) comprising several elements (e.g., microspheres or coated pellets) dif- fering in the rate of drug release. 

Multilayer Tablet

Consists of several different layers that are compressed on top of each other, to form a single tablet com- posed of two or more layers. 

Nanoencapsulation

Formation of nanoparticles encapsulating a drug. 

Nanoparticles

Microscopic particle whose size is measured in nanometers, often restricted to so-called nanosized par- ticles also called ultrafine particles. 

Nebulizer

Device that disperses liquids to aerosols for therapeutic use by inhalation through a mask. 

Ointment

Greasy, semi-solid preparation for external application, often anhydrous, containing dissolved or dis- persed medicaments. 

One-compartment Model

Kinetic model, where the whole body is thought of as a single compartment in which a substance is dis- tributed rapidly, achieving an equilibrium between blood and tissue immediately. 

Onset Of Drug Action

Time required to achieve the minimum effective plasma concentration following administration of the dosage form. 

Paste

Ointment containing >0 % of powder, dispersed in a fatty base. 

Pellet

Very small tablet or pill

Pelletization

Process of agglomeration that converts fine powders or granules of bulk drugs and excipients into small, free-flowing, spherical, or semi-spherical units, referred to as pellets. 

Pharmaceutics

Science of preparation of drugs, dosage forms, and drug delivery systems taking into account the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug as well as its physical and chemical properties. 

Polymorph

Solid material that exists at least in two different molecular arrangements, i.e., distinctly different crystal species. 

Polymorphic Transition

Transition of a solid crystalline phase to another phase having the same chemical composition but a different crystal structure. 

Polymorphism

Existence of two or more different crystal structures for the same compound. 

Powder Grades

Defined for powders used pharmaceutically, according to particle sizes.

Powder(s)

Dry solid material consisting of many, usually free flowing, fine particles. Conventionally, the title “powder” should be restricted to powder mixes for internal use and alternative terms are used for other powdered formulations presented in this way, e.g., dusting powders, which are for external use. 

Preformulation

Exploratory activity that begins early in pharmaceutics, involving studies designed to determine the compatibility of excipients with the active substance for a biopharmaceutical; physicochemical and bioanalytical investigation in support of promising experimental formulations.

Prodrug

Chemically modified form of a pharmacologically active compound that has to undergo biochemical or chemical transformation before exhibiting its pharmacological effect. 

Pseudopolymorph

Different crystalline form(s) of a solvated compound that differ in the identity and/or the stoichiometry of the solvating molecule. 

Relative Bioavailability

Measure of the fraction of a given drug that is absorbed intact into the systemic circulation from a dosage form, relative to a recognized, clinically proven, standard dosage form of that drug. 

Repeat Action Dosage Form

Tablet or capsule distinguished from a sustained-release dosage form, by the fact that it releases the me- dicinal agent, or part of it, at any time other than promptly after administration as opposed to a slow, controlled manner. 

Sieving

Process that differentiates or separates solid particles according to their size using a meshed or perforated device. 

Sol

Fluid colloidal dispersion of a solid in a liquid.

Sol-gel Transition

Transition of a suspension of solid, usually colloid, particles in a liquid (sol) to an apparent solid, jelly- like material (gel).

Solubilizing Agents

Additives making a substance soluble or more soluble, especially in water. 

Solvate

Crystalline form of a compound in which one or more solvent molecules are part of the crystal struc- ture.

Spheronization

Process of making dense, spherical pellets by means of special spheronizing or pelletizing equipment. 

Stent

Scaffold placed into narrowed, diseased vessels (mainly coronary arteries) or a device implanted in a vessel used to help keep it open.

Sterility

Condition of being aseptic, or statistically free from living microorganisms and their spores. 

Sterilization

 Sterilisation is the process of complete destruction of all microorganisms present in a system. the products free from the microorganisms called "sterile products".

Sublingual Tablets

Usually small, flat, and soft tablets, which are designed to be placed under the tongue to allow direct absorption of the active ingredient through the mucosa for systemic effect. 

Suppositories

Dosage form, semi-solid, used for the administration of drugs via the rectal route, for systemic or local effect. When application is via other routes (e.g., the vaginal route), suppositories are termed differ- ently, inserts, pessaries, etc. 

Surfactant (surface-active Agent)

Substance that alters the conditions prevailing at an interface, causing, for example, a marked decrease in the surface tension of water or nonaqueous solvents. 

Sustained Release

Dosage form designed to release the drug contained therein at a continuous and controlled rate for a longer period of time that can normally be achieved with its conventional, nonsustained counterpart. 

Syrup

Liquid preparation of high sugar concentration with or without medicinal and additional flavouring substances. 

Systemic

Effect, relating to the entire organism as distinguished from any of its individual parts. 

Tablet

Solid dosage form compressed into a specific shape containing medicinal substances with or without suitable diluents. 

Tablet Coating

Solid layers based typically on cellulose derivatives and may include plasticizers and pigments. 

Therapeutic Index

Ratio between toxic and therapeutic doses (the higher the ratio, the greater the safety of the therapeutic dose).

Transplantation

The removal of tissue from one part of the body or from one individual and its implantation or insertion in another.


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