BN3402 Bio-Analytical Methods in Bioengineering_______________________________________________________________________________

Course description

The aim of the course is to give a theoretical and practical introduction into selected analytical methods for the characterization of biomaterials, tissues, biomolecules and immobilized biological molecules. The methods are focused to obtain: structural, topological (e.g. Atomic force microscopy), chemical (e.g., spectrometry) and functional (e.g., Surface plasmon resonance and bioassays) information for the characterization of biomolecules, biomaterials, tissues and biomodified materials. This course it designed to equip our Bioengineering students with (bio)-analytical tools to solve various problems they may encounter in their further research and/or industrial practice.

Classroom teaching

Introduction

• Overview of analytical methods

• The Terminology of Analytical Chemistry.

Instrumental Methods

• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM): Topography measurements of tissues, cells and biological macromolecules at nm scale.

• Near Field Scanning Optical Microscopy (NSOM): Optical microscopic studies and spectroscopy with resolutions of ~50 nm.

• Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR): A label free method to study biointeraction and biofunctionality.

• Zeta-potential Measurements: Surface charge of cells and and stability of colloidal systems.

• Flow-Cytometry: Screening and sorting of microorganisms and cells.

• Confocal Fluorescent Microscopy and fluorescent labeling of biomolecules.

• DNA microarrays: Microarray production and applications in gene expression analysis.

• Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectroscopy (MALDI-MS): Molecular mass measurements of biological macromolecules.

Bioanalytical Methods

• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): Real Time PCR and other advanced methods.

• Enzyme Linked Immune Sorbent Assay (ELISA): Detection of proteins, hormones and metabolites at nano to femtomolar concentrations.

• Histological Methods: Measuring enzymatic activities and protein concentrations in cells.

• Electrophoresis Methods: Separation studies of DNA and proteins.

Laboratory

Students will be divided in groups ( 2-4 students, dependent on class size). A small project will be given to each group. The project involves one of the methods thought in class. Each group has to "research/work" on the project. This will be done in the second half of the course. There is no fixed time to research/work on the project. We have to work out time slots depending on your other course commitments. Experiments can also be done on Saturdays. Each group has to prepare a report and has to give a short presentation (20 min + 10 min discussion). Possible experiments/problems to solve are selected from:

Laboratory Experiments (selected from)

• AFM: Bacteria cells on mica.

• NSOM: Bacteria cells on mica.

• Confocal fluorescent microscopy: Labeling of antibodies.

• Zeta-potential: Measurements on cells and microparticles.

•  Histology: Enzyme activity in a tissue.

• PCR: Amplification and detection of DNA

• ELISA: Protein concentration measurements

• Flow-cytometry: Counting and sorting of cells.

Assessment

Midterm exam 30%

Final Exam 30%

Laboratories, Report, Presentation: 40%

Resources