CHIMICA FISICA DEI SISTEMI BIOLOGICI E DELLE BIOINTERFACCE

Module Teranostica e nanomedicina (Modulo 2)

The course aims to provide insights into the chemical and physical concepts related to the basic principles and properties of surfaces, especially the solid-liquid interface, and of nano-biointerfaces. 

Specific educational objectives of the course are: to provide the necessary tools for understanding the various types of interactions that occur at the nano-biointerfaces, including that between cells and tissues and their natural or artificial surroundings, insights into the fundamental role of water at biointerfaces, biomimetic and bioinspired systems (e.g., supported lipid bilayers, nanozymes). Another objective of the course is to explain how cellular processes such as adhesion, differentiation and proliferation can be influenced by mechanical (viscoelasticity), physical (topography) and chemical (surface free energy, composition and structure) properties of surfaces and how these can be modulated, particularly at the nanoscale, to obtain 'smart' systems that respond to environmental conditions (chemical, physical and/or biological stimulus) for application in nanomedicine and theranostics (therapy+diagnosis/imaging). In the laboratory part, the student will become aware not only of the fundamental role played by these topics in different scientific and technological areas (drug transport and delivery, sensing, imaging), but will also acquire confidence with chemical synthesis and physicochemical characterization processes of colloidal systems currently in use in nanomedicine and theranostics.

Furthermore, in reference to the so-called Dublin Descriptors, this course helps to acquire the following transversal skills: 

• Knowledge and understanding: getting to know the essential characteristics of biointerfaces and be able to solve, both qualitatively and quantitatively, simple problems about the biomolecule-material interaction.
• Applying knowledge and understanding: application of the acquired theoretical knowledge for the comparison of experimental results with those of calculation, relative to case studies of biointerfaces between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) and between cells, ECM and medical devices.
• Making judgments: gathering and interpreting relevant data, critical reasoning skills, ability to identify the predictions of a theory or a model.
• Communication skills: ability to describe a scientific topic in oral form, with properties of language and terminological rigor, explaining the reasons and results.
• Learning skills: to have developed the necessary skills to undertake subsequent studies with a high degree of autonomy.

Information for students with disabilities and/or SLD

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To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory measures, based on the educational objectives and specific needs.

Face-to-face teaching lessons delivered in the classroom with the aid of the blackboard and suitable projection of slides (3 ECTS). Classroom solution of problems and answers to exercises relevant to the main topics of the course (2 ECTS). The participation of the students in the laboratory experiences (1 ECTS) and the related introductory lessons is mandatory. In the laboratory, there are working places with suitable equipment to perform the experiences; students will work in group. The results of each laboratory experience must be accurately reported by each student in their laboratory notebook.The aim of the writing of this notebook is a self-assessment by the student of the degree of understanding of the experimental activities and the ability to describe them in a scientific and reproducible way.

The students of the EUNICE partner universities participating to the international M.Sc. course ‘EUNICE Excellence Programme - Bioinspired Chemistry' can participate online (Moodle, Microsoft Teams platforms). 

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

• Compulsory (at least 60% attendance)

1. Physical chemistry of nano-biointerfaces. Introduction to the biointerface concept. Definition and properties (in air and water) of the surface. 
   
2. Biomaterials. Preparation of biomaterials and biomedical prostheses and physico-chemical characterization of their surface properties. External body reaction and implant encapsulation. Biosensors. Bioelectronics. Tissue engineering. Nanomedicine and theranostics.
   
3. Theoretical and application aspects of biointerfaces. Nanoscale biointerfaces. Cell-biological environment interactions. Cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. Protein-solid-surface interactions. 
   
4. Role of water in surface adsorption. The Goldilocks surface. Surface concentration, kinetics, conformation, effect on cell behavior.
   
5. Case studies of self-organizing biomolecular systems: the supported lipid bilayer (SLB).
   
6. Nanozymes and the concept of multimodal platforms.
   
7. Examples of characterization of biological surfaces and interfaces. Comparison of acoustic (quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, QCM-D), optical (surface plasmon resonance, SPR; optical waveguide spectroscopy, OWLS) and microscopic (atomic force microscopy, AFM; laser scanning confocal microscopy, LSM) techniques.
   

• Laboratory exercises on model biointerface systems of interest in drug delivery, biosensors and imaging.
  

Handouts and lecture slides provided by the teacher

1. P. W. Atkins, J. de Paula- Chimica fisica biologica - Zanichelli
   
2. Physical chemistry for the life sciences. 2nd ed. By Atkins, P. W.; De Paula, J.; Ed. W.H. Freeman and Co., Oxford University Press: New York; Oxford, 2011; p xxvi, 590 p.
   
3. W. Pauli - Physical Chemistry in the Service of Medicine - Wiley &Sons
   
4. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology - John Wiley & Sons
   
5. H. Ohshima - Biophysical Chemistry of Biointerfaces - Wiley
6. B.D. Ratner, A.S. Hoffman - BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine - Elsevier
7. NANOMATERIALS INTERFACES IN BIOLOGY - METHODS AND PROTOCOLS, Editors: Bergese, Paolo, Hamad-Schifferli, Kimberly (Eds.) SPRINGER

Oral test. Delivery of written reports related to the exercises conducted in the laboratory.

Learning assessment may also be carried out online, should the conditions require it.