35477 - Nanotechnologies

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student:
- Knows the motivations and the physical principles underlying the development of nanotechnology
- Knows what are the tools and methodologies that allow us to enter the nanometer world and to build nano-functional objects
- Knows the chemical and physical principles that drive the molecular self-assembly towards the development of new materials and the construction of biological systems that are ordered and functional also in the nanoscale.

- Knows how to characterize and manipulate single molecules towards the development of new functional materials, towards the discovery of biological mechanisms, towards the characterization of the structures and the conformational equilibria of proteins.

Course contents

Introduction to nanotechnology: Class overview and availability of teaching materials. Assessment of students’ knowledge at the beginning of class. Introduction to nanotechnology: nanoscale phenomena, structure in the nanoscale, nanofabrication and self-assembly, characterization techniques in the nanoscale. Application examples in nanomedicine (diagnostics, therapy, theranostics). Notes on ethics in nanotechnology (6 hours).

Self-assembly and nanoparticles: Fundamental aspects. Physical-chemical aspects of molecular self-assembly. Examples from (organic and polymer) chemistry. Principles and examples of self-assembly of biological molecules. Nanoparticles: general concepts, synthesis, characterization, applications. Nanotechnolgies in agro-food. Industrial applications (6 hours).

Characterization techniques in nanobiotechnology:

Optical techniques (fluorescence, plasmonic resonance) for nanoscale applications. The phenomenon of plasmonic resonance: applications on nanostructures. Examples in analytics and diagnostics. Single-molecule fluorescence (4 hours).

Optical and electronic microscopy in the nanoscale: The fluorescence microscope. The confocal microscope. Advanced microscopy techniques (superresolution, selective illumination). Reconstruction techniques. Principles and applications of electronic microscopy (6 hours).

Probe microscopies: principles and functioning of STM and AFM and related techniques. Nanomanipulation techniques and measurement of forces. Techniques based on AFM, optical and magnetic tweezers. Nanopores used to characterize molecules or for sequencing nucleic acids. (10 hours).

The techniques used for the characterization of nanoparticles, with case studies (2 hours)

Demonstration of microscopy in the nanoscale (4-8 hours depending on class size)

Nucleic acids and DNA nanotechnologies: Notes on the chemistry and structure of nucleic acids. Non natural analogues of nucleic acids. Stability of nucleic acids. Techniques for te structural characterization of nucleic acids. Aptamers: preparation and applications (to the study of biological systems and nanomedicine). Principles of nucleic acids self-assembly. Nucleic acids nanostructures without structural control. Structural DNA nanotechnology. The characterization of DNA nanostructures (8 ore).

Readings/Bibliography

Scientific papers will be provided and class discussion will focus on them.

Dedicated textbooks are not available. Some books will be listed during lectures, to be used as a support but not required for the class. Papers and slides will be made available during lectures.

Teaching methods

class lectures. A brief lab demonstration on nanoscale microscopy

Assessment methods

multiple choice tests will be offered occasionally during class. Written final exam (open questions). Midterms will be offered during the class and all students are invited to take this opportunity.

Teaching tools

class website. Slides presented and discussed in class and selected papers from the scientific literature

Office hours

See the website of Giampaolo Zuccheri