The Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology is closely related to each player in pharmaceutical development through its work in training Pharmaceutical Chemists (undergraduate); training activities for professionals (continuous training); researcher training (graduate); research, development and innovation (R + D + I) (industry, government entities, and other universities) and in its teaching tasks, research, and outreach to other health professionals, government organizations, and medication providers (hospitals, community and clinical pharmacies, and healthcare applied to medication use).

Given the specific relationship established between the department and each of the actors in the chain, there are 3 fundamental areas of compliance:

1. Clinical
2. Technology
3. Pharmaceutical Policies

These areas are not independent. There is a close relationship between each of them.

Mission

The department’s mission is to develop superior teaching, research, outreach, development, and innovation in pharmaceutical sciences and technology, contributing in the area of medications and improving the health of the population.

Vision

The department’s vision is to develop its mission nationally and internationally. To this end, it promotes research, development, and innovation, thus contributing to the creation of Pharmaceutical Chemists in its undergraduate, continuous training, and graduate curriculum through academic excellence in cultivating pharmaceutical sciences and technology. It is known nationally as a cutting-edge consulting center in terms of science and technology and it is valued for its work regarding dispensation, applied health, rational drug use, pharmaceutical care, development, production, and quality assurance in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. It also participates in committees that decide regulatory policies. This is how it meets the needs of the profession, the faculty, the university and the country.

Faculty board

Director
Prof. Felipe Oyarzún Ampuero

Assistant Director
Prof. Olosmira Correa Briones

Advisors
Prof. María Nella Gai Hernández
Prof. Karina Valdés

Prof. Javier Morales Valenzuela
Email: javiermv@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29781630

Prof. Olosmira Correa Briones
Email: ocorrea@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29781679

Prof. Felipe Oyarzún Ampuero
Email: foyarzuna@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29781616

Prof. Elena María Vega
Email: emvega@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29782840

Prof. María Nella Gai Hernández
Email: mgai@uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29781673

Prof. Edda Costa Castro
Email: ecosta@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29781672

Prof. Javier Morales Montecinos
Email: jomorales@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29781620

Prof. Karina Valdés Camus
Email: kvaldes@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29781678

Prof. Marcela Jirón Aliste
Email: mjiron@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29782838

Prof. Hernán Chávez Grez
Email: hchavez@ciq.uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29782816

Prof. María Teresa Andonaegui Alvarez
Email: mandonae@uchile.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29782815

Prof. Alejandra del Río Vega
Email: adelrio@harneckercarey.cl
Telephone: +56 2 29781632

Prof. Boris Tartakowsky Novoa
Email: btartakowsky@gmail.com
Telephone: +56 2 29781632

Prof. Elizabeth Martínez Rojas
Email: elizab_martinez@yahoo.es
Telephone: +56 2 29781632

Prof. Ariel Castro Lara
Email: acastro@hcuch.cl
Telephone: +562 29789044

Areas of Research

• Pharmaceutical physical chemistry
  Prof Javier Morales Valenzuela.
• Medical, economic, and social consequences of medication use
  Marcela Jirón (Head) y Prof. Elena María Vega.
• Transport of active molecules in nano, micro, and macrometric systems for use in chronic therapies
  Felipe Oyarzún (Head), Prof. Paz Robert, Prof Marcelo Kogan and Prof. Andrew Quest
• Nanostructured polymeric materials as controlled delivery systems aimed at biological (biomacromolecules) and conventional drugs
  Javier Morales Montecinos

Laboratories

Active Molecule Encapsulation and Release Laboratory

Professor
Felipe Oyarzún.
Email: foyarzun@ciq.uchile.cl

Brief description
This Laboratory focuses on the release of different active molecules in order to create medicinal and nutraceutical formulas for therapeutic ends. The type of formulas that we study include liquid, semisolid and solid forms and measure from a few nanometers (soluble complexes and nano systems) to several millimeters (micro and macrostructures). In this unit we get results in the form of basic science (papers) and applied science (patents and licenses for the private sector), making a great effort to place these products into the hands of patients/users.

Drug Delivery Laboratory

Professor
Javier Morales Montecinos
Email: jomorales@ciq.uchile.cl

Brief description
The Drug Delivery Laboratory seeks to develop new drug delivery systems through the use of polymeric materials and their nanoscale applications. This research seeks to incorporate biological drugs (biomacromolecules) into polymeric nanoparticles in order to create controlled release peptide systems. Similarly, we develop polymeric nanoparticles that are modified on the surface as transport systems through the blood-brain barrier, to deliver drugs to the central nervous system. Other applications seek to develop therapies directed at gastric mucosa, the heart, and transdermal delivery, among others. Regarding the use of polymeric materials, it will also explore the development of coatings as oral (transmucosal) administration systems for biological drugs and nanocarriers. In order to guarantee the structural stability of the biomacromolecules, these drugs will be created by depositing crystalline or polymeric nanoparticles in coatings through the inkjet printing technique.

Pharmaceutical Physical Chemistry Laboratory

Professor
Javier Morales Valenzuela
Email: javiermv@ciq.uchile.cl

Brief description
The goal of this Laboratory is to use physical chemistry to study pharmaceutical phenomena that can affect the design and creation of pharmaceutical forms and their performance in the body. To this end, we carry out research in: *Adsorption, distribution, incorporation, stability and the reactivity of molecules with pharmacological activity (antioxidants and drugs) in micro heterogenous systems (erythrocyte membranes, proteins and liposomes) and solids (silica nanoparticles) of pharmacological importance. *Nano vesicular systems formed by nonionic surfactants (niosomes) for transport of natural bioactive substances, considering their biopharmaceutical aspects.  *Developing analytical methodologies to identify active substances in the systems described above.

All classes are taught in Spanish.