Admission requirements
Core course in MSc Chemistry for Health and MSc Life Science and Technology - Biophysical Sciences.
Description
This course introduces the field of supramolecular biomaterials science, a rapidly growing area at the interface between supramolecular chemistry, materials science and biology. This course provides an introduction to the field of supramolecular chemistry. By using case studies, the interplay of various non-covalent interactions in addition to concepts such as multivalency, preorganization, complementarity and self-assembly will be explored with respect to various classes of supramolecular structures. A special focus will be dedicated on the characterization of supramolecular assemblies from the molecular to the macroscales. Throughout the course, the potential of soft materials (e.g. polymers, hydrogels, liposomes) to specifically modulate various biological processes will be explored at several length scales in the context of drug delivery, wound healing, regeneration and disease. Moreover, an in-depth evaluation of the preparation methods of various biomaterials and their characterization will also be presented. The overall goal of this course is for students to gain an appreciation of the impressive developments and challenges faced in this interdisciplinary field, but also to grasp the opportunities for the intervention of supramolecular materials at the biological interface.
Course objectives
At the end of this course the student:
1. will have knowledge of fundamental principles of supramolecular chemistry.
2. will have in-depth knowledge of non-covalent interactions.
3. will have an overview of the areas of supramolecular polymers, transport of ions and molecules over membranes, and biomaterial assemblies
4. will be able to understand the design principles behind a range of supramolecular biomaterials and propose new supramolecular biomaterial designs and functions.
5. will be able to explain fundamental aspects of e(supramolecular) polymers and their characterization as materials (e.g. hydrogels) and methods to enable their interfacing with biological matter.
6. will be able to compare delivery strategies in the fields of macroscale and particulate drug delivery from the preparation of the scaffolds to their application.
7. will be able to summarize the use of supramolecular biomaterials in rapidly developing areas such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, bioprinting, and immunoengineering.
8. can digest and present a critical summary of a scientific article from the literature
Timetable
Schedule information can be found on the website of the programmes.
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
Lectures and student presentations of a supramolecular chemistry article.
Assessment method
Written article review and on-campus presentation (30%) and a written exam (70%).
Reading list
Supramolecular Chemistry, 3rd Edition, by Jonathan W. Steed, Jerry L. Atwood ISBN: 978-1-119-58251-9 February 2022.
Recent literature (review and research papers) will be provided during the course.
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Prof.dr. Alexander Kros, Dr. Roxanne Kieltyka Group website
Remarks
Assignment deadlines are communicated via Brightspace.
According to OER article 4.8, students are entitled to view their marked examination for a period of 30 days following the publication of the results of a written examination. Students should contact the lecturer to make an appointment for such an inspection session.
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.