Master Program in Molecular Biotechnology

Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials

Academic year 2023/2024

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Program
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Suggested readings and bibliography
• Teaching tools
• Course card

Course objectives

The objectives proosed to the studentd as targets of this course are aimed to the achievements of good capabilities dealing with:
- establishment of relationships between the features of amphiphlic molecules/self-assembled amphiphilic molecules and their functional behaviours relevant for their use in nanobiotechnology
- establishment of relationships between features of inorganic nanoparticles and their functional behaviours relevant for their use in nanobiotechnology
- selection and aplication of proper experimental methods for the study of nanobiotecnological systems

Results of learning outcomes

Knowledge of and expertise in:
- main methods for the preparation of nanomaterials of interest in the
field of biotechnology
- fundamental aspects of physical and physical-chemical features of nanomaterials at the basis of their possible exploitation in nanobiotechnology
- fundamental aspects of the combined use of nanoparticles and biomacromolecules
- experimental methods for the characterization of nanobiotechnologycal systems, and selection of the most proper ones in dependence on specific features of the systems
- electron microscopy, and capability to design the proper observation methods for the investigation of samples of biological/biotechnological interest.

Program

This course is devoted to the knowledge and understanding of physical-chemical features of naomaterials at the basis of their functional behaviours which can be exploited for biotechnological applications.
The topics will then deal with:
"soft" nanomaterials
- self-assembling of amphiphilic molecules resulting in the formation of micelles
- relationships between compositional and structural features of amphiphilic molecules and structure and functional behaviour of micelles
- methods for the characterization of micelles-based nanomaterials
- cases-study related to actual or potential application of self-assembled soft materials in biotechnology (e.g, drug delivery, gene therapy)

"hard" nanomaterials
- oxide nanoparticles (typically made of silica), hybridized with fluorophores, intented for applications in "in vitro" and "in vivo" optical imaging: preparation, characterization, surface functionalization for targeting, possible uses
- metal nanoparticles(typically made of gold): origin and dependences of peculiar optical behaviours (plasmon resonance, effect on the emission features of nearby fluorophores), possible uses in cellular and molecular biology
TImaging of nanoparticles: electron microscopy
Scanning electron microscopy: principles; signals to be exploited for the formation of images; type of information present in the images depending on teh signal collected; sample preparation; uses in biology/biotechnology
Transmission electron microscopy: principles; origin and importance of the high resolution, sample preparation; uses in biology/biotechnology
Chemical analysis by energy dispersion spectroscopy of X-rays emitted by samples impinged by a beam of accelerated electrons: principles; uses in biology/biotechnology

Course delivery

Teaching will occur in traditional form: lectures with Powerpoint slides and blackboard 

The first 24 hours of the course will be held by Gabriele Ricchiardi , the second part of the course will be held by Giuliana Magnacca.

Learning assessment methods

- I.A. Israelechvili, Intermolecular and surface forces, Wiley&Sons, Chichester-UK, 1999, second edition

- J.I. Goldstein et al., Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis : A Text for Biologists, Materials Scientists, and Geologists, Springer-Verlag New York Inc., New York 2011, 

- William & Carter, Transmission electron Microscopy, Interscientia, San Diego, 2002, seconda edizione

- scientific papers, uploaded on the webpage of the course

• Teaching material
• Exams and finals
• Class schedule
• Go to Moodle
• Register for the course
• Enrolled students
• Invia email agli studenti registrati
• Export table