90891 - BIOSENSORI E METODI BIOANALITICI AVANZATI

Academic Year 2019/2020

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Chemistry (cod. 8856)

    Also valid for Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Chemistry (cod. 9072)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student: - acquires the fundamental notions related to the use of biological molecules as reagents, - knows the basic principles of detection techniques and of the various analytical formats used in bioanalytical techniques, - knows the main types of biosensors and of bioanalytical methods and their applications, - is able to select the most suitable bioanalytical technique to solve a real problem.

Course contents

- Biological molecules as analytical reagents (natural and synthetic molecular recognition elements, recognition mechanisms, reactivity and selectivity).

- Markers for various detection techniques, immobilization of biomolecules, biosensor architectures and integrated analytical systems, microfluidics and portable analytical devices, micro- and nanotechnologies in bioanalysis.

- Classification of biosensors and bioanalytical methods for recognition mechanism (enzymatic, immunological and genic), format ("high throughput screening", arrays, biochips, "in vivo" molecular imaging, chromatographic and mass spectrometry methods) and type of detection and/or transduction (optical, plasmonic, electrochemical, piezoelectric, mechanical).

- The role of biotechnology and cellular biosensors.

- Review of recent scientific publications on the topics covered in the course and of applications in the medical, pharmaceutical, environmental, food, industrial fields.

Readings/Bibliography

- PowerPoint slides of room lectures and PDFs of scientific publications discussed during the course available on “Insegnamenti online” (http://iol.unibo.it/, access with credentials reserved for students enrolled at the University of Bologna).

Teaching methods

The course is organized in room lectures (supported by PowerPoint presentations) in which the course topics will be presented and discussed. During the course, recent scientific publications related to the topics of the course will be also examined and discussed.

Assessment methods

Verification of knowledge on the whole program by means of the following tests.

- Oral exam on the topics covered during the course, aimed at verifying the acquisition of knowledge and expected skills. In particular, evaluation will be performed taking into account: the comprehension of the basic principles of bioanalytical methods, the knowledge of the main types of biosensors and bioanalytical techniques, the knowledge of practical applications of the methods described above, the ability to select the most suitable bioanalytical technique to solve a real problem.

- Presentation and discussion of a recent scientific publication chosen by the student and related to the topics covered in the course.

The evaluation will be based on the demonstration of the critical understanding of the topics and the ability to discuss them.

Teaching tools

Video projector. The teaching material (PowerPoint presentations, PDFs of scientific publication discussed during room lectures) will be made available to the student in electronic format on “Insegnamenti online” (http://iol.unibo.it/, access with credentials reserved for students enrolled at the University of Bologna). Such material should be printed and brought to class.

Office hours

See the website of Maria Maddalena Calabretta