OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide an overview of the enabling technologies, working principles, and applications of biosensors as well as microsystems of interest in biomedicine. Key elements and biochemical principles of detection will be described together with physical principles of transduction. Fabrication processes suitable for the development of biosensors and microsystems will be described as well. The peculiar possibilities offered by biosensors and microsystems in medical diagnostics, disease treatment and therapy will be highlighted.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide the basic concepts of biosensing in terms of sensing elements (suitable biomolecules and their immobilization strategies), recognition mechanisms (biocalattic and affinity based) and transducing principles (focusing on electrochemical and optical transducers). Some design principles based on target specifications will be also given as well as an overview of the main application fields of biosensors. The second part of the course aims at introducing the main concepts of microsystems applied to biomedicine and biotechnology, with emphasis on the scaling laws governing miniaturization, the fabrication techniques, and some specific aspects such as microfluidics and integration.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

To provide the basic concepts of biosensing and highlight the possible role of the bioengineer in developing new technologies-devices-applications-markets:

   - to understand the most common working principles of biosensors

   - to read and understand the biosensor "jargon"

   - to critically evaluate applications of biosensors and the advantages/disadvantage of using biosensors compared to other analytical techniques

To provide the basic concepts of microsystems applied to biomedicine and biotechnology and highlight the possible role of the bioengineer in developing new technologies-devices-applications-markets

To critically evaluate:

   - the main biomedical applications of microsytems and products on the market

   - the future trends and promising technologies

   - the possibilities and limitations of the most common fabrication technologies for microsystems

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge of biochemistry and physics

TEACHING METHODS

- lectures in the classroom

- two laboratory acrtivities supervised by a tutor

- periodic home assignments

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• basic concepts of Chemical- and Bio- Sensors

    – physical/chemical/bio sensor definitions/classification

    – molecular bonds

    – proteins (antibodies, enzymes) and nucleic acids

    – sensor characteristics

• molecular sensing elements (bioreceptors)

• immobilization techniques

• biosensors figure of merits

• immunoassays

• transducing principles

    – electrochemical

    – optical

    – mechanical

    – calorimetric

• introduction (definitons, some examples, miniaturization)

• scaling laws

• from micro- to nano-systems: nanotechnology and biosensors

• micro- and nano-fabrication technologies

     – silicon micro/nano-fabrication techniques

     –“soft”/”additive” techniques

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Slide and other teaching materials will be provided

Additional materials will be made avaiable on the course aualweb page

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/11159/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will consist in an oral interview about the topics presented during the lectures

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The aim of the exam will be to evaluate the level of the learning outcomes of the course reached by the student.