MCMP Graduate Program - Analytical Medicinal Chemistry

Analytical medicinal chemists study the structures and compositions of substances of medicinal and biological interest. An important aspect of research in this area is the development of new -analytical methods. Typical problems include determination of the structures of complex natural products and biomacromolecules; development of novel methods for the purification of molecules from complex mixtures; detection of trace impurities and decomposition products of medicinal agents in pharmaceutical preparations; in vivo and in vitro study of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs; and evaluation of the solid state reactions of drugs.

Modern analytical chemistry owes much of its success to the development of instruments that provide rapid, specific and sensitive methods of analysis. Research conducted in the area of analytical medicinal chemistry at Purdue takes full advantage of the most up-to-date equipment and instrumental methods for structure determination and quantitative analysis. Since compositional and structural analyses are necessary parts of all chemical and biochemical disciplines, challenging problems abound and professional opportunities are extensive.