67164 - Optical and Luminescent Biosensors

Learning outcomes

The student will acquire basic notions about theoretical principles of biosensors and their applications in biotechnological and pharmaceutical fields. In particular, the student will know:

- the main components of biosensors and the mechanisms of molecular recognition reactions of enzymes, antibodies, gene probes (DNA, RNA and PNA), and imprinted polymers;

- the main transduction mechanisms employed in biosensors (electrochemical, optical, piezoelectrical, luminescent and calorimentric) and their analytical performance;

- immobilization and bioconjugation methods employed for the preparation of biosensors with immobilized biorecognition elements;

- the basic principles of microfluidics and design of lab-on-chip integrated analytical devices;

- principles of whole-cell-biosensors obtained by recombinant DNA methods and based on the reporter gene approach, including BRET-based biosensors;

- basics of cellular and molecular imaging.

The student will be also able to select the most suitable biosensong approach for applications such as drog screening, biomarker discovery, chemical-clinical monitoring with Point-Of-Care Testing (POCT) devices.  

Course contents

Introduction to biosensors: history, specifications of biosensors and analytical performance, classification of biosensors by molecular recognition element and by transduction system, catalytic and affinity-based biosensors.

Molecular recognition elements: enzymes, antibodies, chimeric antibodies, nanobodies, non-antibody binding proteins, molecular imprinted polymers, aptamers, DNA, RNA, PNA.

Transduction systems: amperometric, potentiomentric, piezoelectric, photoacoustic, calorimetric, optical (light absorption, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, bioluminescence, evanescent wave).

Calorimetric biosensors: principles, detectors and applications.

Components of optical biosensors: light sources, detectors, analytical formats, waveguides and optical fibres, implementation of optical fibres in biosensors, miniaturization.

Fluorescence-based biosensors: quenching and energy transfer processes, biosensors for metals and organic species, biosensors based on enzymatic, immunological and nucleic acid hybridization reactions, biosensors employing quantum dots, quantum dots in bioassays, applications of fluorescence-based biosensors.

Chemiluminescence- and bioluminescence-based biosensors: chemiluminescent and bioluminescent systems, biosensors based on enzymatic, immunological and nucleic acid hybridization reactions, applications of chemiluminescence-based biosensors.

Label-free optical sensors: Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)-based and Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW)-based biosensors, principles of SPR and SAW biosensors, instrumentation, recognition processes, applications of SPR and SAW biosensors.

Whole-cell luminescent biosensors: principles of whole-cell luminescent biosensors, reporter genes and proteins, molecular recognition elements, whole-cell biosensors based on FRET and BRET processes. Applications of whole-cell bioluminescent biosensors: detections of specific analytes, toxicity assays, high-throughput and high-content screening.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessions

Assessment methods

The learning assessment takes place through final oral examination, which ensures the achievement of the following learning objectives:

- basic notions about theoretical principles of biosensors and their applications in biotechnological and pharmaceutical fields

- main components of biosensors; main optical transduction mechanisms employed in biosensors and their analytical performance

- immobilization and bioconjugation methods employed for the preparation of biosensors

- the basic principles of microfluidics and design of lab-on-chip integrated analytical devices;

- principles of whole-cell-biosensors

- selection of the most suitable biosensing approach for applications such as drug screening, biomarker discovery, chemical-clinical monitoring with Point-Of-Care Testing (POCT) devices.

Teaching tools

PC, projector

Office hours

See the website of Aldo Roda