PharmaChemistry in the Classroom: A Drug-Discovery Experiment for the High School Chemistry or Biotechnology Classroom

Abstract

In this laboratory experiment, students were exposed to a real-world approach to science through learning about and simulating the processes by which drugs are designed and discovered. The students first synthesized oil of wintergreen from aspirin and analyzed the physical properties of both the starting material (aspirin) and product (oil of wintergreen) to validate that their reaction was successful. Second, unique to this lab experiment, students further scrutinized the synthesis by performing a biological assay investigating the antibacterial properties of their samples. Through the use of these analyses, students were able to play the roles of chemists, biologists, and team members involved in the drug-discovery pipeline. The results revealed to the students that small changes in molecular structure caused significant changes in medicinal activity. Through data analysis, discussion, and problem sets, students evaluated various steps of the experiment as they simulated the drug-discovery process.

Molecules in Medicine: A Week-Long Multidisciplinary Summer Camp for High School Students

“…Students begin the second day of camp by learning about the medicinal properties of methyl salicylate, which is commonly known as oil of wintergreen. 17 This close chemical cousin of aspirin is used as a fragrance and flavoring agent in addition to its medicinal use as a topical analgesic used to treat muscle and joint pain. This organic molecule was selected for synthesis and study because of its connection to aspirin, which provides continuity from the previous experiment, and also due to its ease of preparation and real-world relevance.…”

Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry: A Five-Day Course for High School Students

“…In the lab on Wednesday, students perform a simple organic reaction to convert acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) to methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen). , This lab allows them the chance to perform hands-on organic chemistry and also utilizes the TLC techniques they have already learned to follow conversion of the starting material to the intermediate (salicylic acid) and final product (Scheme ). Because of time constraints, purification of the product is not possible, and the crude oil of wintergreen is used in the Thursday lab described later.…”

“…First, students utilize the crude oil of wintergreen they synthesized in the Wednesday lab to perform a zone of inhibition assay against bacterial growth (Figure ). , This lab not only allows students the opportunity to evaluate the compound they synthesized for biological activity but also provides them with a hands-on lesson in SAR. A primary goal for this experiment is comparing aspirin (inactive) to the oil of wintergreen (active), which demonstrates the key concept that minor structural changes can have profound functional effects.…”

“…Several publications describe short courses developed within this context to introduce high school students to forensic science, biochemistry, and general chemistry . Additional reports detailing one- or two-day workshops and individual experiments focused on introducing high school students to organic chemistry or medicinal chemistry have also been published. − To our knowledge, a week-long course in drug discovery targeted to high school students has not been reported. Within this context, we sought to create a five-day course for the University of Connecticut Pre-College Summer Program designed to introduce high school students to medicinal chemistry and pharmacy.…”

Design of a drug discovery course for non‐science majors

“…There is no textbook that captures course topics at an appropriate level, so a course reader is used that contains chapters culled from general chemistry, introductory biology, and microbiology texts. Supplemental readings are assigned from Napoleon’s Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History by Penny LeCouteur & Jay Burreson [16] and Laughing Gas, Viagra, and Lipitor: The Human Stories Behind the Drugs We Use by Jie Jack Li. [17] …”