This course is a core course MSc Life Science and Technology programme and an elective course for MSc Chemistry Chemical Biology students.
Admission requirements
BSc LST or BSc MST
Description
Bionanotechnology studies the implementation of nanomaterials to understand biology. Bionanotechnology finds many applications in chemical biology research, DNA/protein sequencing, drug delivery systems, sustainable energy, and biosensors.
This course introduces nanotechnologies from a chemical perspective and details to what extend nanotechnology can be used to study biology. A particular focus of the course will be given to graphene, other two-dimensional materials, nanopores, and nanoparticles – with the objective to understand why those new nanomaterials are so much in the spot lights of scientific and academic research. Basic concepts such as bottom-up and top down nanofabrication, surface functionalization, biomolecular sequencing, wetting transparency, colloidal stability, nanocrystal nucleation & growth, electronic device nanophysics, and single molecule biochemistry, are explained first. Then, these elementary blocks will be put in perspective for applications: field-effect biosensing, nanopore sensing, current DNA sequencing technologies, and drug-delivery with nanoparticles.
This course will train the students on the following points:
learning theoretical concepts of (bio)nanotechnology and apply them to carry-out research.
analysis of scientific problems and process the literature
elaborate a research proposal
design an experimental plan to test an idea.
Mode of instruction
Lectures, problem solving, home work, writing a proposal, oral defense of the proposal
Exercises/corrections
Language
English
Timetable
Schedule information can be found on the website of the programmes
Literature
G.F. Schneider et al: “Single molecule detection with graphene: nanopores and beyond” (Chemical Society Reviews, 2015)*, “Chemical and biological sensing with a graphene surface” (Nanoscale, 2015)*, “Chemistry of graphene edges” (Angewandte Chemie, 2015)*; handouts; articles.
Assessment method
Written exam (2/3 of the grade) and a proposal+defense (1/3).