Systems at the micro- and nano-scale are ubiquitous in a wide range of technological innovations; they nowadays represent enabling tools for the advancement of fundamental research and it is believed that, in the near future, they will invade the biotechnological/biomedical market. The course is focused on methods, technologies and operating principles that enable the manipulation and control of biological entities at the micro- and nano-scale. Topics include microdevices for the control of the environment at the scale level of cells (lab-on-chips, bioMEMS, organs-on-chips) and molecular-level nanostructures (quantum wires, quantum dots, graphene or carbon nanotubes,dendrimers, brush-like structures, biological nanostructures obtained  from DNA and proteins).

Students must acquire specific competences according with the following Dublin Descriptors:

A: KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Knowledge and ability to discuss and present the main theoretical aspects presented in the course.

B: APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Resolving problems and exercises at the nanoscale applying the correct mathematical models. 

C: INDIPENDENCE IN JUDGEMENT

Critically analysing the recent literature on nanotechnology and discussing results.

D: COMUNICATION SKILLS

The course is in English and students are encouraged to ask questions and discuss in English.

STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE:

The course is organized in lessons which focus on different theoretical aspects at the micro- and nano -scale levels. Within the course an integrated perspective of the design of bioartificial devices will be provided, deriving from the interaction of bioengineering approaches acting at these scale levels. At the micro scale practicals and tutorials will teach how to approach the design of simple microdevices for cell culturing, from their dimensioning to their realization with microtechnologies and testing with current laboratory techniques. At the nano scale practicals will regard the design of systems at the nanoscale such as hierarchical structures of biomolecules for scaffolding and self-assembling molecular structures.

TOPICS:

The first part of this integrated course will regard sytems at the microscale:

- The course will first deal with the design principles of small-scale devices enabling the culture of living cells, from cell monolayers to organized proto-tissues.

- On the ground of the design principles, the course will deal with the basic theoretical laws concerning transport phenomena at the microscopic scale. In particular, micro fluid-dynamics, particle transport, solute transport, etc. will be treated.

- In parallel to the theoretical aspects, the microfabrication technologies used for manufacturing and the techniques for manipulating fluids and particles at the microscopic scale will be reviewed, and their implications for microdevice design will be integrated in the general vision.

Regarding the second part of the course that will regard sytems at the nanoscale:

- the course will start discussing the technological impact of nanoscale systems and considering the top down and bottom up approaches for the architecture of nanoscale systems.

-Classical and quantum mechanics will be intruduced and discussed depending on the specific system to be described.

- In particular key techniques used extensively in the characterization of structures at the nanoscale will be described (Atomic Force Microscopy)

In this second part the course will cover quantum aspects in the biological fields such as:

quantum dots and wires;

nanostructured surfaces;

DNA-based artificial structures (DNA origami);

nanoscale devices for drug discovery or delivery, and carbon nanostructures (nanotubes and graphene layers);

Students will be evaluated by a written examination.