Modern industrial pharmacology

Modern industrial pharmacology is known to be based on microbiology and genetics. Industrial microbiology uses microorganisms grown on a large scale, to produce valuable commercial products or to carry out important chemical transformations using metabolic reactions. On the other hand, in industrial biotechnology methods of genetic engineering for gene manipulation are used to yield new microbial products, most of which are naturally produced by microorganisms or to cause a permanent hereditary change in the organism.

The major organisms used in industrial microbiology are fungi (yeasts and molds) and certain procariotes, in particular, members of the genus Streptornyces. The strains are generally altered by mutation or recombination to increase the yield.

There are two techniques: in vivo genetic engineering in which the changes in genetic constitution are brought about in cells by processes analogous to those occurring in nature; and in vitro recombinant-DNA techniques in which foreign genes from entirely different sources can be ligated with stably replicating plasmid (or phage) DNA and introduced within the cells.

The in vitro recombinant-DNA technique may involve production of entirely new substances (eg, substances of animal origin) in micro­organisms and, therefore, may involve both qualitative and quantitative changes.

In vivo genetic engineering may involve simple mutational alteration of transfer of the genetic material leading to an enhanced yield of the product or an improvement in the quality of the product. Such techniques have led to the isolation of mutant Actinomyces or bacterial strains capable of producing antibiotics (qv), vitamins (qv), or amino acids (qv) in high yield. Another widely used technique employs plasmid transfer between different bacterial species or genera. One approach to isolating a functional eukaryotic gene is to clone it through its mature mRNA.

Biotechnology is also commonly associated with landmark breakthroughs in new medical therapies to treat virus hepatitis B, virus hepatitis C., cancer, arthritis, haemophilia, bone fractures, multiple sclerosis, and cardiovascular disorders. The biotechnology industry has also been instrumental in developing molecular diagnostic devices than can be used to define the target patient population for a given biopharmaceutical. Herceptin, for example, was the first drug approved for use with a matching diagnostic test and is used to treat breast cancer in women whose cancer cells express the protein HER2.

Modern biotechnology can be used to manufacture existing medicines relatively easily and cheaply. Modern pharmacology is often associated with the use of genetically altered microorganisms such as Escherichia coli or yeast for the production of of substances like synthetic insulin or antibiotics. It can also refer to transgenic animals or transgenic plants, such as Bt corn. Genetically altered mammalian cells, such as Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, are also used to manufacture certain pharmaceuticals. Another promising new biotechnology application is the development of plant-made pharmaceuticals.

Modern biotechnology finds promising applications in such areas as pharmacogenomics, drug production, genetic testing, and gene therapy.

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how the genetic inheritance of an individual affects his/her body's response to drugs. It is a coined word derived from the words " pharmacology" and " genomics". It is hence the study of the relationship between Pharmacyand Genetics. The vision of pharmacogenomics is to be able to design and produce drugs that are adapted to each person's genetic makeups. Pharmacogenomics results in the following benefits:

1. Development of effective and safer tailor-made medicines – drugs based on the proteins, enzymes and RNA molecules that are associated with specific genes and diseases. These tailor-made drugs promise not only to maximize therapeutic effects but also to decrease damage to nearby healthy cells.

2. More accurate methods of determining appropriate drug dosages.

3. Improvements in the drug discovery and approval process.

4. Safer vaccines can be designed and produced by organisms transformed by means of genetic engineering.

Nanotechnology was developed by the Chinese scientists to raise the qualities of a variety of products. Nanotechnologies involve the study and use of materials (nanomaterials) at nanoscale (sizes of 100 nm or less) dimensions, exploiting the fact that some materials at these ultra small scales have different physiochemical properties from the same materials at a larger scale. Nanomaterials are produced using two building strategies, either a “top down” or a “bottom up” approach. With the former approach, nanomaterials are created by breaking up bulk materials using such means as milling, whereas with the latter approach the nanomaterials are built from individual atoms or molecules that have the capacity to self-assemble. Most of the current applications of nanotechnology are in the areas of electronics, medicine, pharmacy and materials science. Nanotechnology also offers exciting possibilities for detecting chemical, biological radiological and explosive (CBRE) agents, and for protecting lives from and neutralizing CBRE agents.