93923 - BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

L’ingegneria biologica ricomprende teorie e pratiche ingegneristiche applicabili alle scienze biologiche con lo scopo di progettare tecnologia biomimetica e bioibrida. Frequentando questo corso lo Studente impara a utilizzare strumenti teorici e pratici per la progettazione e la fabbricazione di parti, dispositivi e sistemi biosintetici. In particolare, al termine del percorso formativo lo Studente: -ha imparato a progettare circuiti genetici con un approccio modulare standard, -conosce le specifiche generali di cellule e biomateriali appropriati per sviluppare protocolli di ingegneria dei tessuti biologici in sistemi bioreattori dedicati, -sa valutare sperimentalmente la funzionalità di costrutti molecolari e/o tessutali ingegnerizzati, -sa come descrivere e predire formalmente le dinamiche di comportamento di costrutti molecolari e/o tessutali ingegnerizzati mediante simulazione numerica, -è informato sul rispetto del quadro normativo che regola l’uso sperimentale e clinico di quanto sopra.

Contenuti

TISSUE ENGINEERING [MODULE 2]

Stem cells in tissue engineering (TE).

TE scaffolds: chemical, physical and biological properties of natural and synthetic biomaterials of interest for the aim; scaffold fabrication methods; bioactive substance delivery; cell/biomaterial interactions (biocompatibility e differentiation assessment).

TE bioreactor systems: cell culture in bioreactors for TE; examples/applications.

 

SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY [MODULE 1]

Unconventional applications for nucleic acids, e.g. a) DNA nanodevices; b) DNA computing; c) autonomous molecular computers for logical control of gene expression.
What is synthetic biology?
The international Genetically Engineered Machine competition
The Registry: a promoter and a terminator for transcription, a ribosome binding site (RBS) for translation
Small regulatory RNAs
The lab room and the equipment
Safety is priority: Biological safety and disposal
E. coli DNA: Chromosomes, plasmids and copy number
Chemical solutions and agar plates
BioBrick™ standard assembly and agarose gel electrophoretic analysis
Preparation of competent E. coli cells using CaCl2
Transformation of CaCl2-competent E. coli cells
Fluorimetry, fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry to measure a fluorescent reporter?
Mathematical modeling to describe and to predict the behavior of a genetic circuit

The lac operon
Rational design of modular circuits for gene transcription: a test of the bottom-up approach
A synthetic post-transcriptional controller to explore the modular design of gene circuits

Testi/Bibliografia

Slides from classes will be available.

Current literature will be circulated in class.

Metodi didattici

Traditional lectures in class, and practical activity in the lab for small students' groups attendance.

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

A maximum of 5/30 will be acquired with an individual Multiple Choice Test (MCT = 15 questions with 4 possible answer each).

A maximum of 25/30 will be obtained submitting a proposal (a paper + an oral presentation with slides).This will be a small-group work (2-3 individuals).

Such a proposal will deal with a technological solution to a diagnostic/therapy/research open problem (at molecular/cellular level). The proposal should be conceived as if you were trying to attract financial resources for its development. i.e. you should (virtually) convince a funding body to support your proposal. Key enabling technology presented during the course should be included in the methods used in the project.

The paper should contain (at least) the following sections 1) state-of-art in the field, 2) aim(s) of the proposal, 3) materials and methods to implement the proposal, 4) expected results, 5) references.

The same proposal will be orally presented with the aid of slides highlighting the above mentioned sections. All the proponents of each project will take the floor during the oral presentation, and are expected to declare their personal contribution in the collaborative work.

The [MCT + paper + oral presentation] bundle is compulsory to earn up to 30/30.

Brilliant work will receive 30/30 cum laude.

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Mol Cell Engn Lab "Silvio Cavalcanti" #3014

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Emanuele Domenico Giordano

Consulta il sito web di Joseph Lovecchio