Course content

This course will cover fundamentals in micro- and nanotechnologies for analytical biomedicine such as diagnostics, research and tissue models. In detail the course will contain: Biosensor fundamentals, nucleotide sequencing technologies, ultra-high resolution imaging, microfluidic basics and uses within cell biology, microfabrication basics, surface bioconjugation and biopatterning, hydrogel structuring, microdroplet technology, organs-on-chips. This course is focused on technology rather than biology, but with uses primarily within biomedicine.

Learning outcome

After completing the course MOL3014, the student should be able to:

• understand how nanotechnology can be tailored and used for biomedical purposes
• understand the problems and possibilities for analysis of proteins, nucleic acids and cells by micro fabricated devices and nanotechnological solutions
• outline fabrication procedures and general considerations for microfluidics
• understand how nano-relevant instruments such as focused ion beam scanning electron microscopes, atomic force microscopes and optical microscopes can be used in biomedicine
• perform simple micro fabrication procedure
• find, refer and consider relevant information

Learning methods and activities

The syllabus of the course is defined by the learning objectives. The course is based on lectures. The curriculum is lecture handouts and appropriate review papers describing the learning outcomes. The course includes a compulsory term paper, providing an in-depth review of the primary literature in a chosen narrow topic, which will account for 30 % of the final grade.

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic skills in molecular biology, cell biology, chemistry, physics. Most suited for students who have completed courses in basic molecular and cell biology.

Course materials

All course material is based on lectures and review articles.